“Unleashed: The Trillion-Ton ‘Megaberg’ Reemerges from the Depths — What This Means for Our Planet!”

For over three decades, an iceberg larger than Rhode Island has been weathering its identity crisis in the Weddell Sea—talk about a long vacation! This colossal ice chunk, nicknamed A23a, has been estimated to weigh a jaw-dropping 1 trillion metric tons. Stuck in place since it broke away from the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf back in *1986*, it finally decided to shake things up and is back in motion! Can you imagine hanging out for 30 years only to finally decide to pursue a new adventure? A23a is not just a big hunk of ice; it’s also a floating ecosystem, ready to create some real splash in the marine world. So, what could its newfound freedom mean for the delicate balance of life beneath the waves? Keep reading to find out! [LEARN MORE](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-worlds-largest-iceberg-is-free-floating-again-and-it-could-help-build-thriving-ecosystems-180985685/)

For over 30 years, an iceberg roughly the size of Rhode Island and estimated to weigh over 1 trillion metric tons has been stuck in place in the Weddell Sea along the Antarctic coastline. Now, the “megaberg” is back in motion.

Dubbed A23a, the ice formation is almost unfathomably huge. It measures 1500 square miles, with an ice thickness of 1312 feet. Originally part of the Filchner-Ronne ice shelf in Antarctica, it calved—or splintered off—in August 1986, taking a Soviet-era research station along for the ride. The freedom was fleeting, however: The berg quickly ground to a halt when it ran up against the Weddell Sea floor.