WEATHER
Germany blanketed in snow; Zoo animals frolic
![A duck chills Dec. 13 on the edge of the Ilmenau River in a park in Bad Bevensen, in central Germany.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/01-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A duck chills Dec. 13 on the edge of the Ilmenau River in a park in Bad Bevensen, in central Germany.
Philipp Schulze, AFP/Getty Images![A bicycle is dusted with snow Dec. 13 in Hanover, Germany.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/02-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A bicycle is dusted with snow Dec. 13 in Hanover, Germany.
Julian Stratenschulte, AFP/Getty Images![A young elephant plays in the snow Dec. 13 at the zoo in Berlin.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/03-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=375&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A young elephant plays in the snow Dec. 13 at the zoo in Berlin.
Tim Brakemeier, AFP/Getty Images![A woman rides her horse through the snow-covered landscape near Brunnen, Germany, on Dec. 12.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/04-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A woman rides her horse through the snow-covered landscape near Brunnen, Germany, on Dec. 12.
Karl-Josef Hildenbrand, AFP/Getty Images![A cyclist rides along the banks of Maschsee Lake in Hanover, Germany, on Dec. 13.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/05-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A cyclist rides along the banks of Maschsee Lake in Hanover, Germany, on Dec. 13.
Julian Stratenschulte, AFP/Getty Images![A polar bear named Sprinter plays with a ball in a pool of his enclosure on Dec. 13 at the zoo in Hanover, Germany. The ball was given to him for his 5th birthday.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/06-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
A polar bear named Sprinter plays with a ball in a pool of his enclosure on Dec. 13 at the zoo in Hanover, Germany. The ball was given to him for his 5th birthday.
Peter Steffen, AFP/Getty Images![Sprinter the polar bear practices his dunk.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/07-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Sprinter the polar bear practices his dunk.
Peter Steffen, AFP/Getty Images![Snow creates a pastoral scene featuring St. Coloman Church near Schwangau in southern Germany.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/08-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=374&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
Snow creates a pastoral scene featuring St. Coloman Church near Schwangau in southern Germany.
Karl-Josef Hildenbrand, AFP/Getty Images![People walk along a snow-covered lane on Dec. 13 in Munich.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.usatoday.com/gcdn/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2012/12/13/09-16_9.jpg?width=660&height=373&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
People walk along a snow-covered lane on Dec. 13 in Munich.
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