Southern Ocean Icebergs continue their march north

3:26 AM Sun 29 Nov 2009 GMT

'Icebergs breaking up at Bauer Bay Beach on the west coast of Macquarie Island Photo - Eve Merfield' &copy Australian Antarctic Division 2008 Kingston Tasmania 7050

Hundreds of icebergs are spread over a large area around Macquarie Island drifting towards New Zealand. It is very rare to see icebergs from Macquarie Island (54.5 S 158.8 E).

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 three weeks ago.

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

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

Close-up of iceberg in Garden Bay at the north end of Macquarie Island. Photo - Jason Ahrens - &copy Australian Antarctic Division 2008 Kingston Tasmania 7050

Elephant Seal and iceberg off Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island’s east coast Photo - Eve Merfield - &copy Australian Antarctic Division 2008 Kingston Tasmania 7050

Close-up of Iceberg at Sandy Bay on Macquarie Island’s east coast. Photo - Eve Merfield - &copy Australian Antarctic Division 2008 Kingston Tasmania 7050

www.aad.gov.au

by Australian Antarctic Division

Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos:

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Southern Ocean Icebergs continue their march north

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