"Scientists from St. Petersburg predict a negative scenario for the world's largest iceberg."

An iceberg the size of two areas of St. Petersburg has been drifting off the coast of Antarctica for the second year now. Despite its colossal dimensions, it still lacks a beautiful name. Scientists refer to the object as A23a. As Polina Soloshchuk, the chief specialist at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute's center for ice and hydrometeorological information, told "KP-Petersburg," the giant iceberg has approached South Georgia Island and is beginning to break apart.

- A23a is currently drifting in the Scotia Sea approximately 300 miles (about 482 kilometers) from South Georgia Island, - the expert informed the editorial staff. – There is almost no navigation in this area, so the iceberg poses no threat to anyone. Only rare tourist vessels approach it to take photographs. The island belongs to Great Britain, has no permanent population, but research is conducted there, and scientists carry out seasonal work.

Roscosmos showed how the giant iceberg is breaking apart. Photo: Roscosmos.

The colossal iceberg began to disintegrate two weeks ago when a substantial chunk broke off, becoming a separate iceberg that started drifting away. A23a will continue to fracture further.

- When the iceberg first began to move, its area was over 4 thousand square kilometers, and it has now reduced to 3.5 thousand, - says Polina Soloshchuk. – Most icebergs in this region navigate around South Georgia Island from the east and break apart slightly to the north. A23a is expected to face the same fate. It can be assumed that it will drift for about another year before it disintegrates. At the same time, it poses no threat to vessels. There is a negative scenario – it could collide with South Georgia Island. This happened about 20 years ago when an iceberg washed ashore, affecting penguin colonies and marine mammal haul-outs.

The largest iceberg in the world can be seen from space. Photo: AANII

Scientists have been monitoring iceberg A23a since 1986 when it broke off from Antarctica in the Weddell Sea. However, it almost immediately ran aground and remained in one place for about 30 years. The object began to move in 2023. It followed the path of all icebergs in this region of Antarctica – headed into what is known as the iceberg alley, an area where pieces break off from the ice shelf.

Technical specifications

ICEBERG A23a:

Age: 38 years;

Size at the start: 4366 square km;

Thickness of the ice mass: about 400 m;

Weight: about one trillion tons.

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