A huge iceberg, known as A23A, remains stranded off the island of Georgia do Sul, after having traveled thousands of kilometers to the drift from Antarctica. With an area of 3,360 square kilometers – superior to the Lisbon Metropolitan Area – and an estimated weight of a thousand million tons, this giant ice cream has been carried by ocean currents since December, generating concerns about its environmental impact.
The possibility of the iceberg colliding or being trapped in shallow waters near the island led to fears about the feeding of penguins and seals, which depend on free access to the sea to survive. However, according to British Antarctic Survey, the A23A remains immobilized about 73 kilometers from the island since March 1, without representing, for now, a significant threat to the local fauna.
The scale up close was incredible
— Kate – Short For Bob ✨️ (@kejamieson_)
This cold colossus separated from Antarctica’s continental shelf in 1986, but remained practically immovable for more than three decades until, by 2020, he began his journey to the north. In January, a fragment of 19 kilometers was released, but scientists still can’t predict accurately how it may influence the future of the iceberg and its path.
