A nonlinear analysis of the interaction between a water wave and a floating ice cover in river channels is presented. The one-dimensional weakly nonlinear equation for shallow water wave propagation in a uniform channel with a floating ice cover is derived. The ice cover is assumed to be a thin uniform elastic plate. The weakly nonlinear equation is a fifth-order KdV equation. Analytical solutions of the nonlinear periodic wave equation are obtained. These solutions show that the shape, wavelength and celerity of the nonlinear waves depend on the wave amplitude. The wave celerity is slightly smaller than the open water wave celerity. The wavelength decreases as the wave amplitude increases. Based on these solutions the fracture of the ice cover is analysed. The spacing between transverse cracks varies form 50 m to a few hundred metres with the corresponding wave amplitude varying from 0.2 to 0.8 m, depending on the thickness and strength of the cover. These results agree well with limited field observations.