Giant Iceberg Heading Toward Australia

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - A giant iceberg that broke off from the Antarctic 10 years ago is slowly heading toward Australia and is the largest such iceberg to have been spotted in the area in a century.

AFP reports that the iceberg, named B17B, is 12 miles long and is about 1,056 miles from Australia's mainland. The original iceberg from which B17B broke off measured about 54 square miles.

"This one has survived in the open ocean for about a year," Australian glaciologist Neal Young told the AFP. "In that time, it's slowly been coming up to the north and north east in the general direction of Western Australia."

Young told the Telegraph that the glacier is unlikely to hit the mainland as it would eventually break up into hundreds of smaller icebergs. But it could pose a hazard to ships.

While icebergs are uncommon in the area, Young said that with global warming, there could be more frequent sightings.

World leaders are currently meeting in Copenhagen for a global conference on climate change.