Record 520 Icebergs Off Newfoundland Draw Crowds

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. Crowds gathered atop Signal Hill in St. John's on Tuesday afternoon to watch an iceberg drift close to shore, drawing gasps and cheers from onlookers on a clear spring day.

The province is experiencing a standout iceberg season, with satellite data from the Canadian Ice Service recording nearly 520 icebergs off the east coast of Newfoundland and southern Labrador as of Wednesday afternoon. That figure surpasses last year's count of 426 and nearly doubles the long-term average of 274 from 2002 to 2021, according to George Karaganis, a senior meteorologist with the service.

These massive chunks of ice originate from ancient glaciers in Greenland, some more than 10,000 years old. Calved years earlier, they drift southward through the Labrador Sea and past Baffin Island via the Labrador Current, a journey that can take up to three years. Favorable northeast winds this spring have pushed many near the coastline, making them visible from land and boosting excitement among residents and visitors.

"It's just joyous. It's so beautiful. The colours are so intense and wonderful," said Susan Davis, a tourist from Baltimore who had taken a boat tour to view one up close. Her...