WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Navigation warnings have been issued for the area south of New Zealand thanks to a large formation of icebergs.
Officials say the flotilla of hundreds of icebergs split off Antarctic ice shelves and could pose a risk to ships in the south Pacific Ocean.
Australian glaciologist Neal Young says he counted 130 bergs in one satellite image alone and 100 in another.
Large numbers of icebergs last floated close to New Zealand in 2006, when some were visible from the coastline — the first such sighting since 1931.
No major shipping lanes or substantial fishing grounds are in the area. Very few adventure sailors would be in the water this time of year.
Icebergs are routinely carved off as part of the natural development of ice shelves, but Young says the rate appears to be increasing as a result of regional warming in Antarctica.
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