Almost 40 years ago, A23a broke away from the Antarctic ice shelf, the iceberg hung on the sea floor for decades and was later caught in circulating ocean currents. Now the giant is free again.

The world’s largest iceberg is on its way north, decades after breaking off from the Antarctic ice shelf, according to the British Antarctic Survey.

The iceberg, scientifically known as A23a, broke away from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica in 1986. However, it remained stuck to the sea floor for decades. After breaking away in 2000, it remained trapped in circulating ocean currents – with brief interruptions. But now it has escaped again, as can be seen on satellite images.

Largest iceberg in the world A23a starts moving