In 2008, the Scott Polar Research Institute (part of the University of Cambridge) organized a competition to give a proper name to Antarctic iceberg C-19A.
The enormous iceberg was initially code-named C-19, as it was the 19th iceberg observed by the U.S. National Ice Center to calve from the “C” quadrant of the continent. In 2003, C-19 split into two pieces: C-19A (the bigger piece) and C-19B (the smaller piece).
The competition was open to kids between the ages of 3 and 12. It attracted about 500 entrants. The winning name came from 6-year-old Max Dolan, who suggested that C-19A be called Melting Bob.
Max coined the name Melting Bob with The Simpsons character Sideshow Bob in mind, but the name is also a clever play on words. Here’s how he explained it:
“Because of global warming, ice melts. And it goes up and down in the sea, so it bobs.”
Among the other suggestions were Kangaroo Desert, White Fright, Vast Tip and Antarc-Ticker.
If you could name an iceberg, what name would you pick?
Sources: And the winner is…Melting Bob, Iceberg C-19, Max names iceberg Melting Bob, NOAA News Online
Image: Adapted from Tafeleisberg in der Antarktis by W. Bulach under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Very clever!
Ice Ice Baby