It wouldn't be a trip to Antarctica without seeing icerbergs! Icebergs form when the glaciers covering land enter the water. At the glacier edge, fragments carve off and begin a slow and stately trip clockwise around Antarctica, driven by prevailing currents. Larger icebergs tend to last about 4-10 years, but as soon as they cross the Antarctic convergence into the warmer waters of the north, they rapidly melt.

First sighting
Somewhere just north of the South Shetland Islands

Usually the first sign of Antarctica (apart from a slight chill in the air) is the first iceberg!

Tabular berg
Scotia Sea

This large iceberg carved off one of the iceshelves lining the Weddell Sea. Icebergs which carve off continental glaciers can be very large and have a flat "table" top.

Jade berg
Bransfield Strait

Every now and then, you may be lucky enough to see a dark green "jade" iceberg. These unusually coloured icebergs are believed to have once been a part of the bottom of an ice shelf that scraped along the ocean bottom. In these cold yet highly salty conditions, the ice may have melted and solidified again, incorporating some green algae.

The finger
Near Pleneau Island

Between Pleneau Island and Booth Island is a natural 'graveyard' for icebergs drifting up from the south. Here a mottly collection of variably shaped icebergs which have gradually melted to thier current shapes.

Turtle iceberg
Near Pleneau Island

This iceberg has managed to melt away into the shape of a turtle. The iceberg has already had to adjust its centre of gravity more than once, as evidenced by the meltwater line beneath the 'head'

Iceberg arch
Near Pleneau Island

Caves formed from water smashing against the base of an iceberg can become arches and holes in icebergs when they roll over as their centre of gravity shifts.