World's Largest Iceberg A23a Begins Drift After Decades of Stillness

The iceberg, three times the size of New York City, is expected to disrupt the ecosystem of South Georgia Island as it moves along 'iceberg alley'.

The world's largest iceberg, known as A23a, has begun drifting after being stationary for over three decades. It broke off from the Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986 and is now moving due to steering wind and ocean currents.
A23a is nearly three times the size of New York City, with a height of 400 meters and a width of 3,900 square kilometers. It is expected to be swept along the Antarctic Circumpolar Current into 'iceberg alley' towards the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia.
Icebergs store records of historical snow, dust particles, and air bubbles that can provide information about air temperatures and carbon dioxide levels from thousands of years ago.
The movement of A23a could potentially disrupt the ecosystem of South Georgia Island, as it could block the bay and trap penguins and other animals, preventing them from reaching food in the open water.
As icebergs drift north of Antarctica, they encounter warm water and strong waves, causing them to erode and break into smaller icebergs or ice chunks. It is expected that A23a will follow this fate, though it may take several weeks to months due to its size.