It's officially iceberg season in Newfoundland and the photos are breathtaking
While the seasons seem a little confused elsewhere in Canada lately, on the east coast, nature is right on time with its annual show of the Atlantic Ocean's iconic icebergs.
Port Rexton, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada, May 2020
— Danika Dragomir (@NikaDragomira) May 18, 2020
Photographer: Ray Mackey pic.twitter.com/dJPHrun1Fm
Late May is the start of the peak time for spotting the colossal ice giants in what has been termed Iceberg Alley, which runs from just north of Labrador down to the southernmost tip of Newfoundland.
The icebergs are generally locked in sea ice earlier in the spring, which melts enough in late May and early June for them to start their journey.
The bergs can be seen peppering the coastline into August and, along with whale watching, are usually a huge draw for tourists — something that unfortunately won't be the case this year due to the pandemic.
Most of the 10,000-year-old natural phenomena break off from the coast of Greenland and descend to come and awe Canadians, and you can even buy local beer and vodka famously made with their ancient water.
Great iceberg today in Sibley Cove, Newfoundland. pic.twitter.com/qeNDRfnCOx
— Straight-Goods (@StraightGoods2) May 18, 2020
Their size is certainly staggering, and as we all know, 90 per cent of it is still below the water's surface, giving just an idea of how massive the floating pieces of earth's history really are.
The house in front of this beauty iceberg is my buddy's/colleague's. He's got a great view of the berg through his back window, eh! #bonavista #IcebergsNL #explorenl #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/PT4qhYasQo
— Mark Gray 🇨🇦 (@GrayMarker99) April 8, 2020
The marvels are best seen on a clear, sunny day, and can range vastly in size and colour, from small and aquamarine-hued (or even striped) to 150 feet tall and stark white.
The iceberg sightings in Canada are certainly nothing new — the Titanic's demise after it hit one of the blocks in April 1912 was actually not far from the coast of Newfoundland — but, due to climate change, the bergs have been calving from glaciers and ice caps in the north at a faster pace and melting faster, too, raising sea levels.
First iceberg of the season!
— Mark Gray 🇨🇦 (@GrayMarker99) March 28, 2020
March 28th, 2020
Bonavista, NL. #ShareYourWeather #nlwx #explorenl #IcebergsNL #iceberg pic.twitter.com/wsOXBN34pY
Though those of us who don't live in the Maritimes may not be able to witness the stunning occurrence first-hand this year, there is always next iceberg season for a trip out to take one of the region's famous guided tours.
And, there are tons of photos and videos to check out online in the meantime, and you can also receive updates about this year's icebergs from afar and track them online.
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