Antarctic iceberg -
composed image
(photo Uwe Kils) from [1] (http://www.ecoscope.com/iceberg/index.htm))
Typically, around 6/7 of the volume of an iceberg is under water and that portion's shape can be difficult to surmise from a naked eye scan from the surface. The mass can be very durable and can easily damage sheet metal. As a result of these factors, icebergs are considered extremely dangerous navigational hazards to shipping. It is the specific function of the International Ice Patrol[?] to monitor the presence of icebergs in the northern Atlantic ocean and report their movements for safety purposes.
The most famous sinking from an iceberg collision was with the RMS Titanic on April 14, 1912.
External links
- Iceberg gallery (http://www.ecoscope.com/iceberg/index.htm)