Icebergs continue march north

24 November 2009

Hundreds of icebergs are spread over a large area around Macquarie Island drifting towards New Zealand.

They have calved from a larger iceberg that was perhaps 30 square km in area and originated from the Ross Ice Shelf nearly a decade ago.

On its journey to near Macquarie Island, that larger iceberg has drifted about a quarter of the way around the Antarctic coastline from where it formed, to the West Ice Shelf.

The first sightings were made by expeditioners on Macquarie Island nearly 3 weeks ago.

The icebergs vary in size from 50 metres up to 2 kilometres in length.

The Australian Antarctic Division is tracking their paths as they head north and east. 

Elephant Seal and iceberg at Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island's east coast Photo: Eve Merfield

Iceberg in Garden Bay at the north end of the island Photo: Jason Ahrens

Iceberg at Sandy Bay on the east coast Photo: Eve Merfield

Icebergs breaking up at Bauer Bay Beach on the west coast Photo: Eve Merfield

Garden Bay near the main settlement of Macquarie Island Photo: Jason Ahrens

More information

• Current map of iceberg locations
• Previous stories: Massive iceberg mesmerises Macquarie Islanders (6 November) and More icebergs surround Macquarie Island (13 November)
• Ross Ice Shelf
• Ice Shelves
• Macquarie Island iceberg gallery