Hello and welcome to my blog! I’m glad you’re here. It’s week 28 in 2022 and I’m hosting Weekend Coffee Share linkup #78. Come on in for a coffee or tea, and let’s catch up.
Iceberg viewing is one of the outdoor activities that I hoped to do when I traveled to Newfoundland and Labrador last month. While late May and early June is the best viewing time, there is no guarantee to see icebergs because it’s up to Nature.
To view icebergs, I headed north and took the ferry from St. Barbe to Blanc Sablon across the Strait of Belle Isle to the shores of Labrador (C in the map below). It was a clear and sunny day, high 18C (64F).
Iceberg #1
As we approached Blanc Sablon, I spotted a ‘dry dock’ iceberg with a U-shaped slot at water level, and three pinnacles or columns. It was a beautiful first sighting.
Roughly 90% of icebergs seen off Newfoundland and Labrador come from the glaciers of western Greenland, while the rest come from glaciers in Canada’s Arctic. It takes an iceberg about two to three years to reach Newfoundland and Labrador from Greenland – a distance of 1,800 nautical miles.
NewfoundlandandLabrador.com
Iceberg #2
Two days later, I boarded a tour boat from St. Anthony (D on my itinerary map) and headed out to sea. St. Anthony is located in Iceberg Alley, an area that stretches from the coast of Labrador to the southeast coast of the island of Newfoundland.
Once again, I was fortunate to have a gorgeous, clear and sunny day, high 11C (52F). About fifteen minutes after the boat departure, I spotted two icebergs in the horizon. One ‘tabular’ iceberg had a flat top and one ‘dome’ iceberg had a rounded top. It was amazing to see these magnificent 10,000 year-old giants float silently in open waters. However, they were a bit far for good pictures.
Until we got close to this ‘pinnacle’ iceberg with one main pyramid on it. It was much bigger than the iceberg I saw in Blanc Sablon. Zoom in to see the streaks on its surface. Regardless of size, each iceberg is unique. As are the bluish-green streaks breaking through the bright white ice.
Iceberg #3
As the tour boat rounded the corner, I saw a massive ‘wedged’ iceberg, with steep surfaces on one side and gradually sloping on the other, thus forming a wedge. And when I considered that 90% of an iceberg is actually below the surface, I was in awe to see this iceberg. Just stunning!
The boat captain turned off the engine so we could listen to hear the melting ice, the faint pops releasing the fresh, clean air previously trapped for thousands of years. As we circled around the iceberg, I realized how deceiving its first appearance was and how an iceberg sank the Titanic because there was more behind its massive size.
Most icebergs weigh between 100,000 and 200,000 tonnes, and some, though more rare, as much as millions of tonnes. There are bergy bits the size of a small house and smaller ones called growlers that get their name from the sound they make as they plunge into the swelling seas. Icebergs are harvested to produce Iceberg Vodka, Gin, and bottled water in Newfounddland and Labrador.
NewfoundlandandLabrador.com
On the way back to St. Anthony, I saw bergy bits and growlers. I touched and tasted the iceberg ice that the boat captain scooped up using a net. Icebergs are created from pure, fresh water and snow so iceberg ice is safe to consume and is not salty.
Since these icebergs and I have traveled thousands of miles to reach Newfoundland and Labrador, I was so happy we met on two beautiful days. Iceberg viewing is one of the highlights of my trip and a memorable experience for a lifetime.
Shared with #CellpicSunday, #PPAC55, #WWE135.
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Natalie the Explorer 
Hi Natalie – I’ve never heard of going iceberg viewing. In Australia there’s lots of whale watching tours – but definitely no icebergs. These would have been fascinating to see IRL and I bet they’ll stay in your memories for a long time to come. Thanks for sharing them with those of us who live in warmer climes.
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Hi Leanne, Whalewatching tours are also popular on Canada’s coasts and I’ve been on some of the tours. Iceberg viewing is one of the main attractions in Newfoundland and Labrador. I loved my iceberg viewing experience. Thank you for joining me virtually.
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I had never considered seeing icebergs as something I would like to do. But your pictures sold me. It must be truly fascinating to come across such nature.
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Iman, Welcome to my blog and thank you for your comment. I find icebergs fascinating and loved viewing them. I’m pleased my pictures sold you.
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Thank you Natalie 🙂 I love to travel, so I’m always looking for new experiences.
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Me too, Iman. I think you’re in Lebanon? I hope you visit Canada someday.
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That’s right, I’m in Lebanon. I got the chance to visit Canada, and more specifically Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, before Covid. My best friend lives in Toronto, so there is a huge chance that I will travel there again. And if the timing is right, iceberg viewing in Newfoundland and Labrador 😀 😀
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I hope you visit your best friend in Toronto again and get to view icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador 🙂
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The icebergs are fascinating, each one like a piece of art. Very interesting post, thank you Natalie.
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You’re welcome Maria. Glad you found my post interesting.
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So gorgeous! I’m not sure what’s more mesmerizing–your incredible photos or your weather report (Sorry–it’s supposed to be 106F here today. I’m going to spend the day picturing myself on a boat looking at icebergs.) Seriously, thank you for sharing your photos and travel experiences. I’d love to visit that area someday.
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Janet, It’s hot where I am so I also look at these icebergs and reminisce when I saw them. I hope you get to visit the Iceberg Alley someday. Triple digit temperatures are not kind to our body. Stay cool.
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What wonderful pictures. I have never heard of icebergs being harvested, but sounds a cool idea for drinks. Perhaps the shower gels that appear in my bathroom when I have visitors, with names such as Atlantic Ocean, are actually the real thing!
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Janet, Right after I saw the first iceberg, a small speedboat went to it probably to harvest icebergs for drinks. I’m pleased you liked my pictures. Have a great weekend.
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How exciting! Something else to add to my bucket list now 🙂 Gorgeous photos – thanks so much for sharing.
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Barbara, I highly recommend iceberg viewing when you visit Newfoundland and Labrador. I’m pleased you liked my photos. Thank you for stopping by.
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What stunning pictures. Certainly a once in a life time experience.
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Anne, Thank you. I’m pleased you liked my pictures.
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What an amazing experience. They’re spectacular. Thanks so much for sharing!! I would love to see something like this one day!
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You’re welcome. I hope you get to view icebergs one day.
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I “wowed” at each image and your words describing them, and I sure did learn about icebergs. Nature like this is so precious and that you got to experience these sights, sounds and touch is a privilege to have your sharing them with us too. WOW again!!
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Denyse, With climate change, who knows how much longer we can view icebergs. I’m pleased you liked my pictures. Have a great week.
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Thank you for sharing nature’s ice sculptures … I am so glad you were able to view so many lovely sights on your trip! They are quite something else!
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Ju-Lyn, I was hoping for a good trip and my experiences in NL exceeded my expectations. Thank you for joining me virtually. Have a great week.
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What an amazing experience you’ve had Natalie to get up so close to the icebergs, and even taste them. Your photos are stunning! Unfortunately on our side of the world, we rarely get to see an iceberg so I really appreciate you sharting these with us.
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Jennifer, With climate change, who knows how much longer we can view icebergs. I’m pleased you liked my pictures. I lucked out with the weather and icebergs that day. Thank you for joining me virtually.
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It is hard to get a sense of scale in those photos, but then, 90% of the bergs are hidden, so hard to imagine the size at all! Sounds like a great experience. Glad you were able to see some icebergs.
Have a great week!
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Trent, These icebergs are huge IRL. The boat was miniscule next to the icebergs. Have a great week!
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Wow, icebergs! Great photographs. The first picture in the group for St. Anthony’s Iceberg Alley has some great colours, the water around the bottom of the iceberg is pretty.
Thanks for the virtual coffee.
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Yes, the iceberg water colour was beautiful. I’m pleased you liked my pictures. Thank you for joining me virtually.
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Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos, Natalie. The color is remarkable.
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Dan, Thank you for stopping by. I lucked out with the weather on the day I viewed these icebergs. It was a striking contrast of sunny, blue sky and white icebergs.
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The photos are great and those icebergs are amazing. I did not realize they traveled so many miles. The ocean looks very beautiful as well, a dark blue. Thanks for sharing an interesting trip.
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You’re welcome. By the time we see these icebergs in Newfoundland and Labrador, they have traveled a long way and for a long time.
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Lovely pictures! I had not thought there would be such excursions, but it does make sense. Thanks for sharing!
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You’re welcome, Lizl. I’m pleased you liked my pictures.
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This is so cool Natalie. Great post, great photos and I’ll bet, great memories.
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Thank you Gary. Great memories for sure.
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Wow and the cool factor that is about as cool as it gets. So very nice. Thanks for sharing them. So very impressive.
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You’re welcome Patrick. Iceberg viewing is an amazing experience.
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What a wonderful post Natalie!! I had no idea you could go iceberg watching and view them and even taste them!! Sooooo very cool and I’m so happy I could see these icebergs through your lens, such beautiful photos! So fascinating and definitely worth a visit someday! 💕 🧊🤩
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Thank you Diana. I’m pleased you liked my pictures. Iceberg viewing is one of the major attractions in Newfoundland and Labrador. With climate change, who knows how much longer we’ll be able to see them. I was very happy to see them on a beautiful day.
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So cool. I have never seen an iceberg!
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It was my first time and I was so happy to see several of them on one trip.
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Beautiful photos. I’d love to visit Labrador. I always see it on the plane map when I’m flying home to NY and watching the journey back (that’s all I do is watch that journey), and I know I’m almost home when we fly over there. I saw icebergs like these in Iceland when we sailed on a lake. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Gréât post!
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Suzanne, Welcome to my blog and thank you for your comments. Seeing icebergs on a lake in Iceland sounds amazing. Labrador is beautiful. I’d love to visit Labrador again and for longer.
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WOW WHEE WOW! That is a spectacular experience. Thanks for sharing.
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You’re welcome Antoinette. It was an amazing experience to view these icebergs.
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Natalie, each one is like a unique sculpture. You even manage to find art installations in nature! Such a joy to behold.
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Suzanne, So true, art installations in nature! Viewing these icebergs IRL was an amazing and memorable experience. With climate change, who knows how much longer we can see glaciers and icebergs.
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Gorgeous photos! I am looking forward to our September trip.
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Thank you, Jackie. I’m glad you liked my photos. You picked an excellent destination for your September trip. Newfoundland and Labrador is a beautiful province.
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I love seeing icebergs (not that I’ve ever seen one in person!) and a friend who lives in St John’s has sent me some iceberg postcards in the past. They get huge! 😀
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Icebergs are unique and fascinating to see IRL Some of the icebergs I saw on this trip were massive.
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Wow Natalie – those icebergs would’ve made my day too! What an exhilarating experience that would have been. They are beautiful and I love that they turned the boats motor off so you could hear all the sounds too. Great photo’s and thank you for sharing as I don’t see such things here in Australia!
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Min, You’re welcome. I was thrilled to view these icebergs up close and on beautiful days. It was an amazing experience. Thank you for joining me virtually. Have a great week!
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Beautiful images, Natalie! We are headed to Alaska on a cruise at the end of the month. I expect (and hope) we get to see some there.
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Thank you, John. I hope you see icebergs on your cruise. It’s an amazing experience.
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Such a stunning, special, and unique experience, Natalie. I’m sold as well. That last iceberg is the cherry on top. I love the rounded part seen from one angle. How cool would it be to have a sneak peek underwater as well. Better wear a super thick wetsuit for that! 🙂
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Liesbet, I lucked out with the weather when I saw these icebergs. It was an amazing experience. The last iceberg was massive and looked so different from front to back. Iceberg viewing must be done at a safe distance as the iceberg can crack or collapse anytime. The aqua blue/ aqua green ice colour was stunning to see IRL.
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Natalie, these may be the most beautiful sculptures I’ve ever seen. Nature is truly amazing. Wow! I’ve never seen an iceburg. Again, you’ve made me want to travel there. You are an amazing photographer and travel writer.
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Marsha, Thank you so much for your compliments. I agree with you that nature is truly amazing. I lucked out to see these icebergs on such beautiful days. Icebergs are unique ‘public art’. I felt fortunate to experience them in my lifetime.
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You are fortunate. I’m much older and never had that experience. We were going to take a cruise to Alaska but Covid hit and changed those plans. 🙂
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I’m sorry to hear COVID has changed your travel plans. The optimist in me believes nothing (good or bad) lasts forever. So I hope COVID won’t last and you get to take your cruise.
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Natalie, I must have miscommunicated. We were going to take the trip a couple of years ago, and Covid changed our plans then – in the midst of all the cancellations. 🙂 We are fine and I think the world is back on track to being able to cope with Covid. Eventually we may reschedule. 🙂
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I’m glad to hear you’re fine 🙂
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We are fine. Vince had a mild case of Covid in January, and I have missed it as far as I know.
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Wow, that’s something I don’t think about seeing! Great images 🙂
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Thank you, Betty, for joining me virtually. I’m pleased you liked my images.
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Hi Natalie,
Wow! I loved checking out these icebergs with you virtually. You’ve put ideas in my head and I’d love to go iceberg spotting now, only it’s a bit difficult in Sydney. A friend of mine did spot a seal today from the ferry.
Take care and hope you have a great week ahead.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Hi Rowena, Thank you for joining me virtually. Nature is amazing. I hope you get to go out and see seals and enjoy the beaches. Have a great week!
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Oh wow 😲 Those are amazing, Natalie 👏 The fact they survive for so long makes you wonder how big they were when they started out; thank you so much for sharing them with us all 😃
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Thank you Jez for your comment. I wondered the same thing about the size of icebergs when they started out. With climate change, who knows how much longer we’ll be able to see huge icebergs.
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Iceberg #2 looks massive and that’s above water!
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Yes, iceberg #2 was huge and #3 was even bigger.
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Oh no I think I may have mixed them up.
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Both icebergs #2 and #3 were huge.
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This is so breathtaking 🤩, I am totally sold. In my bucket list
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Thank you for your visit and comment. I hope you get to see icebergs someday.
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So beautiful
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Thank you for your visit and comment.
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OH wow! That is so neat. They are all so beautiful too with the white and blue color variations.
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Yes, it was amazing to see these icebergs and their striking colours up close.
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I am freezing just by looking at your post!
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LOL…I was comfortable on the boat with the sunshine, low wind and proper clothing.
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👍🏼
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Our 4 days in Newfoundland in April (a few days) allowed us to see 2 small icebergs off of Bonavista. It’s definitely on my to return to list. Fabulous photos!!
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Thank you, Bernie, for your compliment of my photos. The weather was ideal on the day I went to view these icebergs. I also put Newfoundland on my to return to list. Lots to explore and enjoy there.
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Your map shows that you saw a good deal of Nfld. It’s such a fascinating province. So unique perhaps because it is so isolated. Hope you have a few more posts planned. Bernie
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Yes, Newfoundland and Labrador is a fascinating province. So far I’ve written five posts on NL (three in July, two in August). I have a few more posts planned. There are a lot to explore and enjoy in NL.
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