Giant iceberg threatens wildlife as it drifts toward South Georgia Island
A giant iceberg that broke off from Antarctica in the 1980s could soon collide with a small British island, endangering its rich biodiversity.
A massive block of ice on the move, the world’s largest iceberg is heading straight for the British territory of South Georgia Island, where scientists fear it could threaten local wildlife, reports the BBC.
Measuring 3,800 square kilometers—the approximate size of Tarn-et-Garonne in France—and 400 meters thick, this colossal ice block, named A23a, detached from Antarctica in 1986.
After drifting northward in 2020, it became trapped in a vortex, spinning in place for years. In December, it broke free and resumed its northward journey.
Animals at risk
The iceberg is now heading toward South Georgia Island, a remote and mountainous territory home to millions of birds, penguins, and seals. It is approximately 280 kilometers away from making landfall.
According to the BBC, countless animals perished in 2004 in South Georgia’s icy bays and beaches when another giant iceberg, A38, prevented them from accessing food.
« Icebergs are inherently dangerous. I would be extraordinarily happy if this one completely missed us, » Simon Wallace, captain of a South Georgia government vessel, told the BBC.
The report emphasizes that iceberg behavior is unpredictable, making it difficult to forecast their direction and speed once they are adrift in the ocean.
Source: bfmtv
