The world's largest iceberg began active drift along the coast of Antarctica

The largest iceberg on the planet, A23a, has begun an active drift at a speed of more than 150 km per month. About it reported specialists from the Center for Ice and Hydrometeorological Information (TsLGMI) of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI), who monitor the course of its movement.

The iceberg woke up at the beginning of the Antarctic winter, more than 30 years after breaking away from the Antarctic glacier. It is currently moving into the Weddell Sea.

Iceberg A23a is the largest iceberg in the world according to the US National Ice Center nomenclature. Its area is about 4170 square kilometers, which is more than 2 times the area of ​​St. Petersburg.

The AARI explained that the history of this giant began 37 years ago. Back in the late 1980s, the outer edge of the Filchner Ice Shelf broke away, resulting in the formation of three icebergs. On one of them, the seasonal base "Druzhnaya-1" of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition was created.

During wintering, oceanologist Vladimir Bessonov noticed changes in the outlet part of the glacier in the photographs and recorded the time of the formation of the iceberg - July 1986.

Now the future of A23a depends on the effects of currents, underwater topography and meteorological factors. But in the end, the days of the iceberg's life are numbered, it will be brought to clean water, most likely already this year, the institute's specialists added.