Book 18, Question 16
Where Do Icebergs Come From?
Icebergs come from glaciers and ice shelves that break off into the sea in a process called calving! That is how giant floating ice mountains are born. Let's follow one.
More fun facts
- Icebergs are blocks of fresh-water ice that break off glaciers and ice shelves.
- The breaking off is called calving.
- Ice tongues and shelves grow weaker the farther they stretch from land.
- Earth's largest icebergs come from Antarctica's huge ice shelves.
- Icebergs in North Atlantic shipping lanes mostly come from Greenland.
Sources: NOAA, NASA, Scientific American
Questions kids ask
What is calving?
Calving is when a block of ice breaks off a glacier or ice shelf and becomes an iceberg.