Close-Up View Reveals 'Incredible' Scale of Mega-Iceberg That Ran Aground in Southern Ocean

The standard of the world’s largest iceberg was dramatically illustrated for those aboard a adjacent vessel connected February 15, weeks earlier it ran aground successful shallow h2o disconnected the distant land of South Georgia.

The mega-iceberg, A23a, weighs astir a trillion metric tonnes and, erstwhile measured successful August 2024, was recovered to beryllium somewhat smaller than Rhode Island and much than doubly the size of London. It had been drifting with the currents of the Southern Ocean towards South Georgia since 2020, according to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

It was feared the iceberg could person impacted the wildlife of South Georgia, location to ample colonies of penguins and seals, but those fears person abated arsenic the berg appeared to person grounded connected the continental support astir 90 km (56 miles) from shore, the BAS said.

Kate Jamieson recorded this video from a vessel arsenic she travelled to South Georgia successful mid-February.

A23a is expected to yet interruption up, according to the BAS, and the smaller icebergs it produces volition airs a hazard to sportfishing and shipping operations arsenic they are harder to observe and track. Credit: Kate Jamieson via Storyful