The world's oldest iceberg has melted into a lake

(Iceberg)

The iceberg's journey ended in the South Atlantic Ocean in early April

The world's largest iceberg has turned into a lake after forty years of melting, a consequence of the severe climate change affecting the world, which is expected to lead to numerous environmental disasters, including the disappearance of this iceberg.

According to a report published by the British newspaper Metro, based on satellite images, the iceberg, named A-23A, broke off from the Felchner Ice Shelf in Antarctica in 1986. For many years, it remained the largest iceberg in the world, but it finally melted almost completely.

The report, which was reviewed by Al Arabiya.net, states that the iceberg's journey ended in the South Atlantic Ocean in early April 2026, just a few months before its fortieth anniversary.

Satellite images tracked its formation in the Weddell Sea until its disintegration, as it drifted more than 2,300 kilometers north to the warm waters near South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. There, it rapidly melted, fractured, and shrank. 

A-23A's longevity was attributed to its entrapment on the ocean floor, where temperatures were low enough to preserve it. But in its final months, this iceberg experienced extensive melting and disintegration.

By late March 2026, scientists estimated it had shrunk to just over 170 square kilometers, a fraction of the more than 6,000 square kilometers it covered in 2020 when it was still trapped off the coast of Antarctica. Pools of dark blue meltwater formed on its surface, weakening its structure and potentially contributing to its collapse. Clouds obscured some of its final moments from satellite imagery.

“In recent weeks, I’ve noticed how nature seems to be shrouding the dying iceberg in a blanket of clouds, as if trying to give it some privacy at this stage,” says Ian Lesser of the Met Office. Nevertheless, there have been enough observations to capture glimpses of its final disintegration, as well as the many stages of its long and winding journey.

In recent years, a growing fleet of satellites has provided unprecedented detail, from the iceberg’s changing shape to its impact on surrounding marine ecosystems. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have also captured close-up images of the iceberg.

“The technology that allows us to tell the stories of icebergs is the result of the efforts of engineers and the funding that has put critical sensors into orbit to collect and make this data available,” says Christopher Shuman, a former professor at the University of Maryland.

“Over time, these efforts have allowed us to understand the general patterns of iceberg movement around Antarctica, particularly in the last few decades.” Despite decades of observation, scientists say many questions remain about how icebergs move and break apart.

Researchers continue to study the role of ocean currents, seafloor topography, and swirling water columns in determining iceberg trajectories. Small fragments that break off from giant icebergs are a major concern, as they pose a danger to maritime navigation and are difficult to track.