A-23A the largest iceberg in the world and it’s on the move. The whole thing is about the size of the state of Rhode Island and it is on a collision course with a wildlife haven in the Southern Ocean.
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00:00This is A-238, the largest iceberg in the world, and it's on the move.
00:09The whole thing is about the size of the state of Rhode Island, and weighs upwards of one
00:13trillion tons.
00:15For eight months it stayed spinning in the Southern Ocean, trapped in a whirlpool.
00:18However now it's on a collision course with the island of South Georgia, which is situated
00:23between Argentina and Antarctica.
00:25Experts say this could be a big problem, as the island is a place where many vulnerable
00:29species call their home, including seals, penguins, and other seabirds.
00:34That's because if the iceberg ends up grounded, it could block access to the feeding grounds
00:38these creatures rely on.
00:39In fact, in 2004, a similar occurrence happened on this very island.
00:43When that iceberg became grounded, conservationists marked an uptick in seal, pup, and penguin
00:47chick mortality there.
00:49That's because, according to oceanographer Andrew Myers, the adults must swim further
00:53to go around the berg, and thus expend more energy and bring back less.
00:57Scientists say they are hoping that recent storms will break up the iceberg, and prevent
01:00a large mass of it making landfall in the wildlife haven.