This Antarctic Iceberg Was 180 Kilometers Long and Plunged Nearly 300 Meters Below the Surface

27 Iceberg

Icebergs can reach enormous sizes. One encounter with an iceberg proved disastrous for the Titanic — then the world’s largest ocean liner. There have been instances where submerged icebergs, when flipped over, have even lifted passing ships high into the air.

So, just how big can these icy giants get?

Scientists measured an iceberg that calved off the coast of Antarctica. It stretched an astonishing 180 kilometers in length and was at least that wide. This massive chunk of ice towered 40 meters above the water, which means it extended nearly 300 meters below the surface.

The amount of water trapped in this ice block, preserved by frigid Antarctic temperatures, equaled the annual runoff of a major river such as the Volga.