Iceberg A-23A Shrinks After Decades of Drifting

Iceberg A-23A, which broke off from Antarctica’s Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986, is still one of the most closely tracked and long-lasting icebergs ever recorded.

Originally, the iceberg was about 4,000 square kilometers in size—almost twice as large as Mumbai. By early January 2026, it had shrunk to around 1,182 square kilometers.

After drifting across the Southern Ocean for decades, the iceberg is now located between South America and South Georgia Island. Scientists report that it is melting rapidly and breaking into smaller pieces.

Despite its shrinkage, A-23A remains important for researchers, as studying its movement and melting helps understand climate change and the behavior of Antarctic ice.