Iceberg that was once world’s largest to melt away within weeks

Iceberg that was once world’s largest to melt away within weeks

An aerial view of iceberg A23a in the south Atlantic Ocean near South Georgia in November 2024. Photo: Getty

A large Antarctic iceberg that broke off from an ice shelf almost four decades ago is now in its final days, with scientists saying it could vanish within weeks after drifting into warmer seas.

The megaberg, known as A23a, “calved” from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986 and became stuck on the seabed of the Weddell Sea, where it remained grounded for over 30 years.

It set adrift in 2020 and was carried by ocean currents into the “iceberg ­alley” – the south Atlantic route where most of Antarctica’s giants eventually meet their end.

Earlier this year, A23a still covered nearly 3,100 sq km, making it the world’s largest