Last week we took a look at glaciers originating on Alaskan mountainsides and their long, slow journeys to ocean waters. Now let’s consider what happens to icebergs formed that way. (Incidentally, the part of an iceberg under water is almost ten times larger than what is seen above the water.)
Some icebergs are quite flat on top, making a suitable place for seals to climb up and rest. Birds also appreciate them as places to rest too. Skilled Eskimo hunters, spotting game on icebergs, silently paddle their kayaks near enough to get shots at them. Sometimes they are particularly pleased to discover a polar bear asleep on one.
But the icebergs most often referred to in books and magazines are the huge ones found in Arctic Ocean waters above Newfoundland. Many of these icebergs are carried by ocean currents and winds into the shipping lanes of the Atlantic Ocean. It was one of these that was hit in the dark by the “unsinkable” ship named Titanic many years ago. The Titanic sank and many people drowned. Many other ships have in past years crashed into icebergs in the dark or fog. Today these iceberg areas are patrolled by boats with radar and radios which warn ships to keep far away from them.
These larger icebergs are most frequently huge chunks of ice that have broken away from the thick ice caps of the North Atlantic Ocean. Some have been measured and found to be as much as three miles wide and 1600 feet thick, weighing thousands of tons.
In former days of fishing it was quite common for sailors to pull alongside these great icebergs to chip off enough ice to fill their storage tanks with good clean drinking water - for icebergs have no salt in them. It is estimated that an iceberg one-half mile long, one-half mile wide and 500 feet thick, holds frozen water worth $4,000,000, if it could be towed to one of the hot, water-scarce countries down near the equator. So far, there are too many problems to try doing this.
Our opening Bible verse reminds us that glaciers, icebergs and other waters are all included in God’s creation and are also included when the Bible says, “For Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:1111Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11).
But the Creator has far more pleasure in a higher form of His creation. We are told in Psalm 149:44For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. (Psalm 149:4), “For the Lord taketh pleasure in His people.” Who are His people? Those who love Him and trust in Him as their Saviour. Are you one of His people?
ML-01/31/1993