The iceberg started out as a surface crack in the sheet of ice, which is located in front of the Pine Island Glacier (PIG) in the Antarctic region.

The rift, which was first noticed in October, runs for almost 20 miles from end to end and is thought to be 200ft deep.

With the crack widening every day, the iceberg will be formed - or 'calved' as it is scientifically known - when it breaks away from the floating ice mass.

This is expected to take place at the end of the year or in early 2012.

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/s...ntarctica.html