Fast ice

Fast ice is like a big ice raft that gets stuck to the edge of the ocean or frozen coast. It forms when the sea water or a river freezes solid and then the ice gets attached to the land or the sea floor, and it can't move. It's called fast ice because it's not floating around like an iceberg or sea ice, it's stuck in one place like it's been fastened down.

Think of it like when you draw a picture on a piece of paper and you tape the paper to the table so it doesn't move. The paper is "fast" to the table. That's how fast ice is stuck to the ocean floor or solid coast.

Fast ice can be good for animals like seals, polar bears, and penguins, because they can use it to rest on and catch fish. But for ships trying to move around, fast ice can be a problem. Because it's stuck in one place, it's not safe for ships to move through it, and they might get stuck or damaged.

Overall, fast ice is a type of ice that's stuck in one place, and it can be helpful for some animals, but tricky for ships.