The largest iceberg in the world has begun to move after decades of remaining at the bottom of the sea in Antarctica, according to CNN. A massive block of ice broke off from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986 and almost instantly froze at the bottom of the Weddell Sea in the Antarctic. This iceberg, called "A23a," is more than 400 meters thick and covers an area of about 4,000 square kilometers, which means its size is over double that of the British capital (1,572 square kilometers).
After nearly three decades, scientists Ella Gilbert and Oliver Marsh believe that the iceberg has shrunk enough to lose its grip on the seabed, as part of the natural growth cycle of the ice shelf, and it has started to move. They added that "A23a" has been referred to as the "largest iceberg currently" several times since the 1980s, though it is sometimes surpassed by larger but shorter-lived icebergs, including "A68" in 2017 and "A76" in 2021.
The scientists suggested that the iceberg, which is carried by ocean currents, is likely moving eastward, with available data indicating that "A23a" is moving at a rate of 5 kilometers per day. They noted, "Although this particular iceberg broke off as part of the natural growth cycle of the ice shelf, climate change is driving changes in the ice of Antarctica, and the continent loses enormous amounts of ice every year."
