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Antarctica’s Spellbinding Stripy Icebergs
Written by Linda 
Photo:
flygirljc777
Antarctica is the coldest and most barren continent on the face of the Earth, with spine chilling temperatures as low as -130°F (-90°C) in the winter. There is next to no vegetation, no permanent population and not a hotel in sight yet people still flock to the area in their droves to get a glimpse of the abundant wildlife and marine life, and these floating beauties: icebergs.
Photo:
davewalsh
Only about one-tenth of an iceberg is visible above water making them dangerous to manoeuvre around, as the ill-fated Titanic discovered, and the largest ever recorded towered a whopping 551ft above sea level, roughly the height of a 55-storey building. They’re also capable of travelling an astounding 17 kms (11 miles) a day.
Photo:
flygirljc777
The green stripes through these icebergs are caused by algae caught in the ice. Brown, yellow and black stripes are the result of sediments being picked up when the ice sheet works its way to the sea.
Source: Crooked Brains
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Comments
Mary Burke (not verified) says:
Jan 9th, 2009 at 11pm
Where exactly in Antarctica were these striped icebergs photographed?? I have just been to Antarctica and saw some pretty remarkable icebergs, but not these striped mammoths?
Mary Burke
Steve N. Lee (not verified) says:
These are wonderful images.
I've always fancied a trip to Patagonia because it looks to have such incredible scenery it's almost other-worldly. And while I was down that way, I'd pop over to Antarctica for much the same reason. Well, these photos say it all, don't they?
Plus, of course, there's the animal life and the possibility of seeing part of an ice cliff collapse into the sea - must be one of the most spectacular things on earth. Then there's scuba diving through ice canyons... Wow, I'd book a flight now if I could! Okay, maybe not - I don't fancy those temperatures!
Thanks for a stunning set of photos. Let's hope we get our acts together enough to pass legislation to protect this wonderful place.
Steve N. Lee
author of eco-blog http://www.lionsledbysheep.com
and suspense thriller 'What if...?'