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Where Is the World's Largest Ice Shelf?

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Quick Answer

The Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica is about 487,000 square kilometres — roughly the size of France.

The Full Story

The Ross Ice Shelf, extending from Antarctica's coastline into the Ross Sea, covers approximately 487,000 square kilometres, making it the largest ice shelf on Earth. Its ice cliff face stretches about 600 km across and rises roughly 15–50 metres above the waterline, with about 90 % of its thickness submerged. First sighted by James Clark Ross in 1841, the shelf plays a crucial role in buttressing Antarctic glaciers. If the glaciers it holds back were to slide into the sea, global sea levels could rise significantly.

Key Facts

1.The shelf is about 330 metres thick on average.
2.Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott both launched their South Pole expeditions from the Ross Ice Shelf.
3.The shelf produces massive icebergs; one in 2000 (B-15) was about 11,000 sq km — larger than Jamaica.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Ross Ice Shelf — Antarctica's Frozen Giant"

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