World’s largest iceberg breaks free

The world’s biggest iceberg, which split from the Antarctic coastline in 1986 to become stuck to the ocean floor for more than 30 years, is about to spill beyond Antarctic waters

A23a ICEBERG

SIZE COMPARISON
A23a iceberg 3,900 sq km
Hawaii’s Big Island 10,432 sq km
Cyprus 9,251 sq km 

Greater London 1,569 sq km

ATLANTIC OCEAN

South Georgia: If berg grounds at island, it might disrupt delicate ecosystem

Nov 2023: A23a expected to launch into Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which will eject it towards South Atlantic on path known as “iceberg alley”

2022: Berg loses grip and starts moving across Weddell Sea

1986: A23a calves off Filchner Ice Shelf, but quickly becomes grounded on sea floor


Sep
Jul
May
Mar
Jan 2023

Filchner Ice Shelf

Ronnie Ice Shelf

ANTARTIC PENINSULA

SOUTHERN OCEAN

ANTARTICA