The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-09-02
The Huge ICebergS Of
The Arctic Waters
And Their Formation

1t is an interesting fact that the ac.
tual iceberg always comes from near
the ends of the earth. Becoming de-
tached from the immense ice masses
of the North or the South Polar re-
gions, the huge pinnacles 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 To-
cality, for they have come to the
length of that interesting river in the
ocean, the Labrador current, besides
floating hundreds of miles in the wa
ters about Greenland.
The distance covered by an iceberg
of the North Atlantic from the time
it is formed until it reaches the Banks
is fully $500 miles. 1t may have been
atioat for year, exposed to wide
changes of temperature, battered by
ice foes, possibly other bergs, and
ceaselessly washed by the waves. Yet
some of those seen 1000 miles south
of their starting point are nearly 300
feet in height and truly of majestic
proportions, often a thousand or more
feet in length, while it is an estab
lished scientific fact that so much
more of the bulk is under water than
is visible that the largest ones may
extend into the ocean to a depth of
more than half of a mile.
Their enormous size when they be-
come detached from the glaciers is
proved by the observations of explor- .
ers along the Greenland coast. A few
years ago one was measured as nearly
as possible around the edges. This
distance was about five miles. It had
several peaks estimated to range from
500 to 800 feet high. Judging from its
appearance it was a solid mass tina,
had separated in its entirety from the
glacial edge Of Greenland. As Arctic
laVlgatOrs who venture far North
'tten see a score or more great bergs
n a day, the tremendous glacial ac.
iyity in this region can be appreci-
tied, The majority of these that drift
o the Grand Banks come from Mel.
lille Bay. Some of the distinct glac- {
ers that terminate the Greenland ice
zap on this coast extend along it a s
distance of fully twenty-five miles. I
their thickness or height can only be
stimated, but in places near the open S
ga it is believed to be several hun.
red feet. II
recent examinations of this coast I
how that during the short summer S
he formation of bergs in the bay is :
lmost continuous. The glacial move
1ent keeps pressing the ice forward {
ntil a thick stratum often projects
many feet beyond that beneath. After !
time the great weight overcomes {
he tensile strength of a mass and it {
alls into the sea, and a berg is Gre '
ted. The warmer temperature of &
ummer may also widen crevasses on '
ne fringe OF the glacier, and wave
ction loosens another mass. The ex- /
lorers in this sheet of water say that {
normous force is displayed by these {
ce falls, and that the sound of the I
Teat body striking the water is so {
.eep and loud that it resembles thun-
Ter. The many reports that may be I
leard in day indicate the rapidity I
With which the glaciers disintegrate
n summer
Probably the natives of Newfound-
and and Labrador are more expert
n the knowledge of marine ice and (
ce forms than any others. This
night be expected, since the island
md the long bare peninsula are in
'ased in ice in some form so many