12-Million-Ton Iceberg Threatens Greenland Village
- 2018-07-18
- Live Science
Residents of a small town on Greenland's western coast were evacuated after a giant iceberg parked itself nearby, bringing a threat of a tsunami and flooding that could wash much of the village away.
It measures a staggering 656 feet (200 meters) wide and rises about 328 feet (100 m) above sea level, according to satellite data, and is thought to weigh more than 12 million tons (11 million metric tons), according to the Times.
The iceberg is an impressive sight, but it also brings significant risk to the village; should the berg disintegrate, massive chunks of ice falling into the bay could send powerful waves washing over the town. Meanwhile, residents are waiting to see if the berg will break up or if rising tides and winds will push it to a safe distance in Baffin Bay.