A Copernicus Sentinel-2 image captures the final stages of A23a, the iceberg that once held the title of world's largest. Calved from West Antarctica in 1986, it remained grounded for decades before breaking free in 2020. Now drifting in the South Atlantic, its size has diminished dramatically.

The 20 December 2025 image shows the berg approximately 150 km northwest of South Georgia Island. Though reduced to roughly 1000 sq km, it remains one of the largest in open waters. Visible meltwater ponds signal rapid deterioration, a common fate for icebergs reaching these warmer latitudes.

A23a's northward journey, driven by winds and currents, covered about 2000 km. Its disintegration follows a pattern seen with other megabergs that entered these waters. The process highlights how Antarctic ice behaves once it escapes the continent's frigid grip and encounters warmer ocean currents.