Unusual iceberg sightings a wonder for people near Gros Morne

Icebergs don't usually drift south into Newfoundland's Gros Morne National Park, but this year a half-dozen or so beauties are a draw for locals and tourists alike.  

Lobster fisherman Foward Bennett of St. Paul's says that in his 55 years he's never seen icebergs in this part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

"Not used to it. And getting up alongside of them so close and seeing the colour, it's pretty awesome," said Bennett. "Pretty exciting actually."

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Bennett said the area has been busy with people trying to get a close-up look.

"Quite a few people stopping and going along the highway and just taking pictures using spyglasses, binoculars, looking out at them … quite a bit of excitement in the area," he said.

"A few fishermen in the area now have taken strangers out who came along wanting to see the iceberg and I guess they were pretty excited about it too."

Falling apart

Bennett and his family took a jaunt out around St. Paul's earlier this week, while they still could.

The iceberg there has been steadily falling apart for about a week, Bennett said, and he guesses it's soon going to be gone.

"As the pieces keep falling off of course it's gonna come afloat and with the wind, she's either gonna drive to shore or go off," he said.

Not so uncommon

According to Brad Drummond, a senior ice forecaster with Environment Canada, icebergs in the area show up each year — what's unusual this season is the large number.

"Right now, we're currently looking at over 100 icebergs through the north-east arm of the Gulf and around the Strait of Belle Isle," Drummond told CBC on Wednesday.

"Typically, we would see maybe 15 to 25 at this time of year."

Drummond said late winter and early spring weather systems brought hurricane-force winds which funneled more icebergs through the Strait of Belle Isle than what's normal.

While it's hard to say just how many more bergs will show up this season, Drummond expects the area has already reached its peak number.