Travelling across the remote Arctic wilderness between Russia and Norway is no easy task, even within the warm confines of a heated vehicle.
But Syrian migrants, many of whom will stop at nothing in search a of better life, are braving the frigid trek by bicycle in order to take advantage of a legal loophole that permits them to pedal across the border into Norway.
The difficulty arises from the fact that the Scandinavian nation penalizes drivers who transport asylum-seekers across the border, so they can't pile into a heated truck and get a ride into Norway. Meanwhile, Russian officers do not allow pedestrian crossings, so walking is not allowed, either.
That's why travelling by bicycle has become the only viable alternative for many migrants.
Syrians Amir and Ashraf recently embarked on the 20--kilometre journey from Russia to the border crossing of Storskog, Norway. Despite the harsh conditions, Ashraf was hopeful about a potential new life on the other side.
"It's quite sad but I'm looking at the bright side. It will be better I hope. Everything will be ok," said Ashraf.
In 2014, no more than a dozen asylum-seekers crossed at the Storskog border, but those numbers have grown astronomically as migrants search for new ways into Europe.
More than 1,000 migrants cycled across the border last month, and as many as 200 have been making the crossing each day in recent weeks.
Many asylum seekers are opting to escape war-torn Syria by flying directly to Russia, often on tourist visas, to avoid dinghies and a potentially deadly journey by sea, as well as to bypass the barbed-wire fences and crowded refugee camps in other European countries.
However, the route through Russia is not without its own risk, and Rune Rafaelsen, mayor of the Norwegian municipality of Soer-Varanger, is concerned about how cyclists will be affected as temperatures continue to plunge.
"I do not dare to think that this situation will continue throughout the winter," he said.
With a report from Â鶹´«Ã½' Daniele Hamamdjian
