Giant Antarctic iceberg heads towards N.Zealand: experts

The ice chunk, measuring some 700 metres (2,300 feet) long with an estimated depth of 350 metres, caused a stir when it was sighted by experts based on Australia's remote Macquarie Island.
"I've never seen anything like it -- we looked out to the horizon and just saw this huge floating island of ice," said fur seal biologist Dean Miller.
Australian Antarctic Division glaciologist Neal Young said the flat-topped slab could break into dozens of smaller icebergs as it moves in the direction of New Zealand, causing a possible shipping hazard.
"It's rare to make a sighting like this -- it's certainly impressive-looking," Young told AFP.
He said the iceberg had probably split from a major Antarctic ice shelf nine years ago, and said more could be expected in the area if global warming continues.
"If the current trends in global warming were to continue I would anticipate seeing more icebergs and the large ice shelves breaking up," he added.
(c) 2009 AFP
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