New iceberg 47 miles long breaks off Antarctic ice shelf

WASHINGTON (AP) _ An iceberg 47 miles long and 4.6 miles across has broken off the Ross Ice Shelf in the Antarctic, the National Ice Center reported Thursday. <br><br>The giant sheet of glacial ice and

Thursday, May 9th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ An iceberg 47 miles long and 4.6 miles across has broken off the Ross Ice Shelf in the Antarctic, the National Ice Center reported Thursday.

The giant sheet of glacial ice and snow was named C-18, meaning that it's the 18th iceberg to be tracked in that section of Antarctica since 1976, when record keeping began.

The iceberg, floating close to the ice shelf, is not considered a hazard to navigation. It was spotted on satellite images.

The National Ice Center, based in Suitland, Md., provides worldwide ice analyses and tracking to assist the military and private shippers.

It is a joint operation of the Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Coast Guard.