30 Amazing Facts About Iceberg | Amazing Facts 4U
- The word iceberg comes from the Dutch term iceberg which means “ice mountain”.
- Icebergs are edges of glaciers that have broken off and slipped into the ocean and is floating in open water. Glaciers form on land by snow building up over thousands of years.
- The glaciers of western Greenland, where 90% of Newfoundland’s icebergs originate, are amongst the fastest moving in the world, up to seven kilometers per year.
- The term “iceberg” refers to chunks of ice larger than 5 meters (16 feet) across. The smallest are termed “bergy bits,” which are the size of a small house, and “growlers,” which are the size of a grand piano. These smaller pieces are hazardous to ships because radar may not pick them up.
- The average weight for an iceberg is 100,000-200,000 tonnes and is equivalent to the size of a cubic 15 storey building.
- Most of the icebergs are found in the North Atlantic near Greenland and the cold waters surrounding Antarctica.
- Every year about 40,000 medium to large-sized icebergs break off, or calve, from Greenland glaciers.
- After the Titanic sank near Newfoundland in 1912 due to collision with iceberg , the USA and 12 other countries formed the International Ice Patrol to warn ships of icebergs in the North Atlantic. The International Ice Patrol uses airplanes and radars to track icebergs that float into major shipping lanes .
- Amazingly it takes approximately two to three years for these massive icebergs to reach Newfoundland covering a distance of 1,600 nautical miles.
- The density of ice is 0.92 g/mL, and the density of water is 1.0 g/mL while density of salt water is 1.03. This means that ice has nine-tenths, or 90 % of water’s density and so 90 % of the iceberg is below the water’s surface. In contrast, a piece of wood with a density of 0.5 g/mL would float with half of its volume below the surface of the water.
- As 90% of an iceberg is under water, the phrase “tip of the iceberg” has originated. Remember that it’s maximum width under water is 20% to 30% larger than you can see at the surface.
- An iceberg exists in freshwater near Antarctica and in the North Atlantic Ocean near Greenland. Antarctic icebergs last for ten years on average, whereas, Arctic icebergs for about two years.
- The amazing fact is that ninety-three percent of the world’s mass of icebergs is found surrounding the Antarctic.
- Greenland and other North Atlantic icebergs are usually peaked and irregular in shape; Antarctic icebergs are usually tabular, with flat tops and steep sides.
- Amazing thing is that the ice that makes up the Arctic icebergs may be up to 10000 years old. Glaciers form on land as the result of snow accumulation over thousands of years. Icebergs are created when the edge of a glacier advances into the ocean and breaks off in pieces.
- It’s amazing to note that the icebergs are created from pure, fresh water and snow . They are not salty. It is completely safe to consume.
- Every year about 10,000 to 15,000 medium to large-sized icebergs break off, or calve, from Greenland glaciers. Each year 375 or so icebergs drift from Greenland into the shipping lanes off Newfoundland. They are a major hazard to shipping in that area.
- The average drift speed is around 0.7 km/h, although speeds greater than 3.6 km/h have been recorded.
- As icebergs from Greenland travel southwards and as they melt , they lose 85% of their original mass by the time they reach Newfoundland waters. Amazingly this travel covering a distance of 1,600 nautical miles might take up to 3 years.
- The interior temperature of an iceberg is between -15 and -20 degrees Celsius.
- Iceberg is about 10% as strong as concrete and is a lot harder than ice in our freezer.
- When iceberg ice melts quickly, the bubbles released from it make a sound like soda water fizzing. Amazing fact is that the air that escapes is as old as the ice. It may have been trapped there for 15,000 years or more!
- One of the biggest icebergs ever broke free from the Ross ice shelf in Antarctica in March 2000 was named B-15. Amazingly it was 295km (183 miles) long and 37km (23 miles) wide, with a surface area of 11,000 sq km (4,250 square miles). Amazing fact is that it could have provided everyone in the world with 400 tons of pure drinking water.
- When glacier ice becomes extremely dense, the properties of the ice change. It now absorbs all the colors in the spectrum except blue, which it reflects. This is why it looks blue.It’s the trapped air in snow that makes it reflect almost all the spectrum and appear white. So, white ice is new ice, blue ice is old ice.
- Icebergs often “ground” or reach the seabed and get stuck.
- You’ll often see birds perched atop icebergs, and if they suddenly fly off, it might be a sign the iceberg is about to roll or break apart which is a spectacular treat for the eyes and ears.
- Generally, you should keep a minimum distance equal to the length of the iceberg between you and it though safety can never be guaranteed. Any attempt to climb onto an iceberg is extremely dangerous.
- Icebergs are best viewed in late May and early June along the coast of Newfoundland. From the shore icebergs that are 5 to 10 Km away can be seen in clear weather
- In Newfoundland, iceberg ice is now a commercial product. Ice is collected and sold as bottled water and used in the production of vodka.
- Icebergs can also serve as tools for scientists, who study them to learn more about climate and ocean processes.
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