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Iceberg is my favorite in Newfoundland. This is one of the best places in the world to admire this nature's majestic art of work. Every summer, plenty of spectacular bergs arrive Newfoundland shore; Some enormous tourists flood into fishery towns alongside eastern coastline to chase icebergs. Here you can find a summer to remember.
Copied image: Icebergs broke apart from Greenland glaciers
Newfoundland icebergs were born in Greenland and over 10,000 years in the making. The life of an iceberg begins with the snowfall back to tens of thousands years ago, which added a layer to Greenland ice cap. It was bury below deeply over years with growing density by the weight of newer layers built atop. When enough time passed, the snow was compressed 60-70 meters down; the compacted snowflake transformed into dense ice and merged into glaciers. Greenland glaciers are on the slow yet constant movement towards the ocean; and once it reach water, the internal structure could no longer support the glaciers' weight. In summer, when temperature rises, large chunk of ices break apart from glaciers and drift into the sea, formed newborn icebergs. Research findings indicate that 20 primary major glaciers birthed 10,000 to 15,000 icebergs each year, 90% from Western Greenland.
Iceberg migration map
Once calved, an iceberg will usually live 2-3 years. Western Greenland current drifts icebergs clockwise alongside Greenland shore, going all the way up to northern Baffin Bay, where they make a U turn and started heading south. Labrador current takeover icebergs after Hudson strait, floating them to Newfoundland shore or further south before melt away. The average drift speed of entire migration is 0.7km per hour.
Most of the bergs diminished during this slow journey, and 2-3 years later about 300 icebergs will eventually reach North America Continent in spring, traveling over 2,500 miles. Once near shore, icebergs will ground on the rocky underwater bank, and their life ends there. In 2 weeks, they melt away completely.
Some bergs could escape sea current influence, roaming to Iceland shore or Arctic water where they could survive another 40-50 years.
When talking about icebergs it's unavoidable to mention Titanic. On April 14, 1912, one of these Greenland-made icebergs sunk the unsinkable Titanic in a foggy night at 40 degree north latitude, the south most border that an iceberg could possibly reach. It's a tragedy caused by a lucky berg.
We can only see the top of an iceberg, left remaining 90% to imagination. The under water part of an iceberg is with random shapes, and it's maximum width beneath water is much larger than you can see at the surface. Besides, iceberg is made of solid ice, a lot harder than you make in your freezer. A ship hit an iceberg almost certainly means a disaster. The impact could generate hundreds of tonnes of force, strong enough to break or even tear apart any ship's hull.
Icebergs varies in size and weight, ranging from 60 million tonnes and hundreds of meters long to few tonnes tiny icebergs size of a piano. The average weight of an iceberg is 100k-200k tonnes. The largest icebergs on record was called B15, calved in 2000 with an area of 4,250 square miles, or size of state Connecticut.
When it comes to viewing icebergs, nowhere else in the world beats Newfoundland's Iceberg Alley. This is a 'L' shape coastline stretching from the St Anthony in the northern tip of Newfoundland to all the way down to Bonavista at northeast. When Labrador current carry in bergs, they have a good chance to pass by Twillingate first, given it's geographical location; The city was so called 'Iceberg Capital of the World'. Every summer from may to June, tourists from all over the world rush to Twillingate to get a closer look at the bergs. You may spot icebergs from shore but boat tour makes the viewing more interesting. My first priority of Newfoundland is an iceberg tour in Twillingate.
Iceberg viewing is a first time in life experience for me, while it happens in a least expected way. My first stop in Newfoundland was St. Anthony, a remote fishery town at the northern tip of the island.
I have to stay there overnight before continue my trip to Viking village, beyond that I didn't have any preconceived notions about what to expect. Before leaving locals point me to the Fishing Point where beautiful lighthouses stands. I went there before dawn, and when I was hiking the whale watcher's trail for a better view of the town, first thing come into my sight was couple of giant icebergs waiting for me quietly in a small bay. It looks absolutely gorgeous!
Blocky icebergs, St. Anthony, Newfoundland, June 23, 2016
Later on I figured out that in St. Anthony I actually have a better chance over Twillingate to spot icebergs in end June due to its chilly weather. This is the type of fishery town that you won't say it's pretty, but attractive and with a rough charm. Mossy barren coastal hills with bright colored houses on top; calm blue water float white icebergs nearshore; lovely red topped lighthouse against blue sky.
Fishing Point Lighthouse, St. Anthony, Newfoundland, June 23, 2016
All the best of St. Anthony are around Fishing Point. This is the meeting place for locals and tourists alike, and I spend several hours there before I know it. On top a coastal hill I got a mesmerizing view of beautiful blue Atlantic surrounded, dotted with amazing icebergs in various shape and size. Bergs gives St. Anthony a barren yet scenic feel.
Tabular iceberg in distance, St. Anthony, Newfoundland, June 23, 2016
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