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World's Largest Iceberg A23a, Spanning 3,500 Square Kilometers, Drifts Toward South Georgia, Threatening Penguins and Seals

Jan 24, 2025, 04:32 AM

The world's largest iceberg, known as A23a, is drifting towards South Georgia, a remote British island in the South Atlantic Ocean. This iceberg, which spans 3,500 square kilometers and weighs nearly one trillion tonnes, poses a potential threat to the island's wildlife, particularly its colonies of penguins and seals. A23a, which broke off from Antarctica's Filchner-Ronne ice shelf in 1986, has been on the move since becoming dislodged in 2020. It is expected to reach the vicinity of South Georgia within the next two to four weeks. If the iceberg grounds on the island's shallow continental shelf, it could block access to vital feeding grounds, potentially leading to increased mortality rates among the island's young penguins and seals. The iceberg's movement is being closely monitored by scientists and could also impact fishing and navigation in the area. A23a, visible from space and described as a 'Game of Thrones-style wall' of ice, is 33 times the size of Paris and stands 130 feet tall.