Moody Gardens is counting down to the start of its 40-day holiday destination with the return of Ice Land, which will be open Nov. 23 to Jan 1.

The winter wonderland is a spectacle of ice sculptures, holiday light shows and features ice skating, dining and a giant ice slide.

The Ice Land theme this year is Pole-to-Pole, an ice sculpture carved from two million pounds of ice that will take guests on a glacial sight-seeing journey from the North to South poles. The exhibit will include polar bears, penguins, humpback whales, snow owls, walruses and reindeer.

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Other attractions include the Arctic Ice Slide, a giant ice slide for children and adults, and Shiver's Ice Bar, which will be transformed into the shape of an igloo this year to fit the Pole-to-Pole theme.

Ice Land begins to take shape in early October as a team of master ice carvers from China begin crafting the elaborate ice world in the 28,000-square-foot tent located in the Moody Gardens parking lot, according to the Moody Gardens website.

The ice used for the holiday display comes from the Flying Penguin, Moody Gardens' partner in Bryan, Texas.

Ice Land is part of the Moody Gardens' Holiday in the Gardens, a series of holiday-themed events, including the Festival of Lights, an ice-skating rink and the New Year's Palooza.

Moody Gardens is a nature-focused attraction in Galveston that promotes preservation of wildlife and ecosystems, and education through various programs and permanent and visiting exhibits.

Tickets for Ice Land start at $29 for adults and $24 for children and seniors.