Spectacular Living Sculptures

by: Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys


The world's greatest show on earth of living sculpture is provided by free flowing giant icebergs. Mixing the action of wave, wind and temperature, the ever-altering activity of light creates an exhibition beyond compare.

Ice that has evolved at the polar caps finally breaks away from either glaciers, or ice shelves, calving from the mother lode and starting its long voyage towards the equator.

Through a blend of temperatures above freezing and the action of the wind and waves, the ice is slowly eaten away. These tremendous giants are swept along by the sea's currents, until they drift into warmer waters and thaw, dispersing rich nutrients into the water. As the ice melts, fantastic shapes begin to appear.

Nearly 40,000 medium to large sized icebergs calve annually in Greenland alone. Many will survive up to a year. Icebergs move at 7 kph, on average, are one – two thousands tones in weight and tower about the size of 15 storey buildings. Before an iceberg is completely dispersed it will travel over many thousands of kilometers. Icebergs have been photographed off the coast of Bermuda and Ireland, but these are rare sightings.

To witness an iceberg calving, or completing an incredible roll, is a sight you will never forget. It's not only very dangerous, but very intimidating to be in a little boat near a giant office block of ice, soaring over the top of you, as well as there being several office blocks below the sea. A ratio of only 1/8th is seen above the water line. Not only are the icebergs unstable, the quantity of dazzling glare and reflections created by the interaction of ice and sun, are a real menace.

The biggest iceberg ever recorded in the Northern Hemisphere was 13km in length, 6km in width and had a freeboard (height above the water) of almost 20 meters. It was estimated to weight around 9 billion tones, or enough water for every person on the globe to drink a litre a day for 4 years.

Icebergs in the Southern Hemisphere make their northern cousins look as if they are mere pimples. In 1987 an iceberg covering an area of 6350 sq kilometers broke away from the Ross ice-shelf. It was estimated at weigh approximately 1.4 trillion tones and would have been able to supply 240 tonnes of pure drinking water.

Following the sinking of the Titanic near Newfoundland in 1912, twelve countries created the International Ice Patrol. Ice giants that measure over 5,400 sq feet are tracked by satellite and warnings sent to shipping.


About The Author
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's of YouMe Support Foundation (http://youmesupport.org) provide high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help some great kids fulfill their dreams. Take a few minutes to check it all out the Tropical Island Treasure Chest at Win A Resort (http://winaresort.com) It will completely change your life.

Feel free to contact Wendy on admin@youmesupport.org