Iceberg that once world’s largest turning blue as it melts and dies

By Dean Murray

An iceberg, until recently the world's largest, has turned blue as it nears complete disintegration.

A-23A first broke away from Antarctica's Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, but is now displaying a hue indicating massive meltwaters as it starts to disappear.

When it first detached, the iceberg was nearly twice the size of US state Rhode Island—about 4,000 sq kms.

Estimates from the U.S. National Ice Center now put A-23A's area at 1,182 sq kms in early January 2026.

This follows the breakup of several sizable pieces in July, August, and September of 2025 as it moved into relatively warm summer conditions by December.

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It is believed that iceberg D15a, currently located near Australia's Davis research station in Antarctica, is the current world's largest. It measures around 3,000 sq km.

NASA Earth Observatory said: "After a four-decade run, the massive, waterlogged berg is leaking meltwater and on the verge of disintegrating.

"One of the largest and longest-lived bergs ever tracked by scientists is sopping with blue meltwater and on the verge of complete disintegration as it drifts in the South Atlantic between the eastern tip of South America and South Georgia island."

Scientists say these signs indicate the iceberg could be just days or weeks from disintegrating completely.

NASA quoted retired University of Maryland Baltimore County scientist Chris Shuman as saying: "I certainly don't expect A-23A to last through the austral summer.

"A-23A faces the same fate as other Antarctic bergs, but its path has been remarkably long and eventful. It's hard to believe it won't be with us much longer."