The Washington herald., 1909-06-20
ICE FBOM The POLAR REGIONS
Long Distances Travelled by In
mence Masses in Ocean Currents.
Origin of Icebergs at Ends of Earth.
Glaciers Terminate on Coast
OF Greenland

Il is an interesting fact that the actual
iceberg always comes from near the ends
% the earth. Becoming detached from
the immense ice masses OF the north OF
the south polar regions. the huge piii-
nacies and mounds and other formations
TOO often in the path OF vessels crossing
the Grand Banks Of Newfoundland have
made a long journey before reaching this
locality. for they have come the length
Of that interesting river in the ocean, the
Labrador current, besides floating hun
dreds OF miles in the waters about Green
land.
The distance covered by an iceberg OF
the North Atlantic from the time it IS
formed until It reaches the Banks is fully
2. 800 miles. II may have been afioat for
year. exposed 70 wide changes Of tenn
perature, battered by ice foes. possibly
other bergs. and ceaselessly washed By
The waves. Yet some Of those seen 200
miles south OF their starting point are
nearly 800 feet in height and truly Of ma
testic proportions. often q thousand or
more feet in length. while It IS an estab-
Ilshed scientific fact that so much more
OF the bulk is under water than is visible
that the largest bergs may extend into
the ocean 10 a depth Of over half a mile.
Their enormous size when they beOme
detached from the glaciers is proved by
the observations Of explorers along the
Greenland coast. A few years ago berg
was measured as nearly as possible
around the edges This distance was
about FIVE miles Il had several peaks es-
tinated 10 range from 800 10 so feet high
Judging from its appearance. writes Day
Allen Wiley IN the Scientific American,
Il was a solid mass that had separated in
its entirety from the glacial edge OF
Greenland.
As arctic navigatOrs who venture far
north often see a score or more OF great
bergs in a day. the tremendous glacial
activity in this region can be appreciated
The majority OF these that drift 10 the
Grand Banks come from Melville Bay.
Some OF the distinct glaciers that tern'i-
nate the Greenland ice cap on this coast
extend along IL a distance Of fully twen-
ty-five miles. Their thickness or height
can only be estimated. but In places near
the open sea il is believed 10 be several
hundred feet
Recent examinations OF this coast show
that during the short summer the fOrma-
ton OF bergs in the bay is almost con-
tinuous. The glacial movement keeps
pressing the ice forward until a thick
stratum often projects many feet beyond
that beneath After a time the great
weight overcomes the tensile strength OF
n mass and it falls in the sea and a berg
is created.
The warmer temperature OF summer
may also widen crevasses on the fringe
OF the glacier and wave action loosens
another mass. The explorers IN this sheet
of water say that enormous force is dis
played by these ice falls and that the
soun6 of the great body striking the
water is so deep and loud that II resem-
bles heavy thunder. The many reports
that may be heard in day indicate the
rapidity with which the glaciers disinte-
crate IN summer.
Probably the native OF Newfoundland
and Labrador are more expert in the
knowledge OF marine fee and ice forms
than any others This might be expected.
since the shores of the island and the
long, bare. peninsula are encased in ice in
some form so many months IN the year.
while the berg-laden current flows past
them on its southerly course. The seal
hunter or fisherman OF this region can
tell the character OF a piece Of floating
ice or an ice pack merely al a glance.
When searching for seal on the ice
fields IN winter. II he becomes thirsty he
looks for ice having a blush or grayish
tint. not the white or transparent variety.
He knocks of lump OF the darker hue
and tests II with his tongue. The field
may consist OF a pack OF pan or foe ice,
which. though dazzling In Its whiteness
and clearness. is unfit to quench the
thirst. owing to its salt So II Is that
much suffering is endured by these fur
hunters unless they chance upon q fraS-