World's Largest Iceberg A23a Runs Aground Near Antarctica

The 4,000-square-kilometer iceberg, drifting since 1986, has stopped 70 kilometers from South Georgia Island, averting immediate ecological risks.

Iceberg A23a, measuring approximately 4,000 square kilometers and weighing nearly one trillion tons, has run aground near South Georgia Island in the Southern Ocean.
The iceberg, which detached from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in 1986, had been drifting northward since 2020 after being trapped in Antarctic currents for decades.
Scientists feared a potential collision with South Georgia Island could disrupt the feeding routes of local wildlife, including penguins and seals, but this risk now appears mitigated.
Researchers are observing the iceberg's potential impact on the marine ecosystem, as its grounding and melting could release nutrients beneficial for marine life.
If the iceberg breaks into smaller pieces, it could pose navigation challenges for fishing vessels in the region.