04/02/2025
An iceberg the size of Chicago that broke off of an Antarctic ice shelf has revealed a thriving ecosystem beneath it, according to researchers.
On Jan. 13, the iceberg broke off from the George VI Ice Shelf, a massive floating glacier attached to the Antarctic Peninsula ice sheet.
The seafloor beneath, previously covered by 209 square miles of ice, had never before been accessible to humans.
The species detected in the previously unknown ecosystem include large corals and sponges supporting a plethora of marine life, including icefish, giant sea spiders and octopuses, the researchers said.
Read more: https://www.beautyofplanet.com/antarctic-iceberg-breaks-away-to-reveal-a-never-before-seen-ecosystem/
