The tip of an iceberg is usually only 10% above water as 90% is underwater so,tip of the iceberg means only a small part of a bigger problem.



Although birds and large animals like polar bears that visit icebergs, on these vast blocks of snow and ice, only a few little specific animals are able to properly survive. These tiny creatures include, snow fleas, glacial midges, ice worms, rotifers and glacial copepods.

Snow flea

Ice worm

Glacial midge

A glacier is a slow moving land mass made from compressed fallen snow and ice. Icebergs are formed from glaciers and ice shelves when chunks break off or calve. When the iceberg reaches warm water, the new climate attacks it from all sides. On the surface, the warm air melts the snow. This is called a melt pond.

The word 'iceberg' translates to the Dutch word 'ijsberg' which means 'ice mountain'. This was thought to be because the Dutch were great travellers and might of encountered a iceberg whilst doing so thinking they were mountains covered in ice.

The worlds largest iceberg was called B-15 which was measured at 295 kilometres long and 37 kilometres wide which had a surface area of 11000 squared kilometres( larger than the whole island of Jamaica!).

An iceberg can travel up to 14 kilometres per day. When they float into warmer waters, most icebergs have melted when they reach 40 degrees.