World's largest iceberg is on a devastating COLLISION course with a remote British island - threatening thousands of local penguins and seals
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The world's biggest iceberg is on a devastating collision course with a remote British island, scientists have warned. A23a is a 'megaberg' that measured around 1,540 square miles at its peak - twice the size of Greater London. The megaberg recently broke free from its position north of the South Orkney Islands, and began drifting in the Southern Ocean.
![[It's now just 173 miles away from South Georgia - a British territory and wildlife haven that's home to thousands of penguins and seals]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/11/94428277-14316667-image-a-15_1737630157376.jpg)
Over the last few weeks, large slabs have started breaking off the megaberg, leaving a main section measuring around 1,351 square miles - roughly the size of Cornwall. Now, it's just 173 miles away from South Georgia - a British territory and wildlife haven that's home to thousands of penguins and seals.
![[The megaberg recently broke free from its position north of the South Orkney Islands, and began drifting in the Southern Ocean]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/11/94428273-14316667-The_megaberg_recently_broke_free_from_its_position_north_of_the_-a-17_1737630196799.jpg)
Simon Wallace, captain of the South Georgia government vessel, Pharos, warned that the iceberg is dangerously close to grounding and smashing into pieces. Worryingly, these pieces could linger for years - wreaking havoc for sailors and fishermen trying to navigate the waters.
![[The iceberg originally calved from Antarctica's Filchner Ice Shelf back in 1986. It then remained grounded on the seabed in the Weddell Sea, before beginning its slow journey north in 2020]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/11/94428399-14316667-The_iceberg_originally_calved_from_Antarctica_s_Filchner_Ice_She-a-19_1737630235544.jpg)
Speaking to BBC News, Mr Wallace said: 'Icebergs are inherently dangerous. I would be extraordinarily happy if it just completely missed us.'. The world's biggest iceberg is on a devastating collision course with a remote British island, scientists have warned.
![[A23a is a 'megaberg' that measured around 1,540 square miles at its peak - twice the size of Greater London]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/11/93124041-14316667-A23a_is_roughly_double_the_size_of_Greater_London_and_weighs_nea-a-20_1737630243607.jpg)
It's now just 173 miles away from South Georgia - a British territory and wildlife haven that's home to thousands of penguins and seals. The megaberg recently broke free from its position north of the South Orkney Islands, and began drifting in the Southern Ocean.
![[In February last year, the iceberg became trapped in a Taylor Column - a phenomenon where rotating water above a seamount traps objects in place]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/23/11/94428269-14316667-In_February_last_year_the_iceberg_became_trapped_in_a_Taylor_Col-a-23_1737630299097.jpg)
