Gift ideas
Unusual gift: adopt a real iceberg, tracked by satellite
Yes, you can give someone an iceberg: a real iceberg from Antarctica or Iceberg Alley, tracked by satellite, with a certificate in their name. How it works, what is real and what is symbolic.
Giving an iceberg is probably one of the most unusual gifts there is. With Mon Iceberg, you choose a real iceberg, in Antarctica or in "Iceberg Alley" off Newfoundland, tracked by satellite thanks to public data from US agencies. The recipient gets an adoption certificate in their name, with the position, dimensions and illustrated shape of their iceberg, and can receive news of it every year. It is a symbolic gift: it confers no property rights, but it creates a concrete link with ice that is melting far from our eyes.
What exactly is an iceberg?
An iceberg is a block of freshwater ice that has broken off a glacier or an ice shelf and drifts across the ocean. About 90% of its volume is hidden below the surface, because ice is slightly less dense than seawater: that is where the expression "the tip of the iceberg" comes from.
They come in all sizes:
- The giant icebergs of Antarctica, called tabular icebergs, are flat and can be tens of kilometres long. The largest iceberg currently tracked, D15A, covers more than 3,000 km², almost thirty times the area of Paris.
- Arctic icebergs, born mainly from Greenland's glaciers, are smaller and take on varied shapes: pointed, domed, arched.
How does it work?
1. You choose a real iceberg
Our catalogue brings together two families of icebergs:
- Antarctic icebergs, tracked every week by the U.S. National Ice Center. For each one, you see its position, dimensions, area and, where available, a satellite image.
- Iceberg Alley icebergs, tracked in 2021 by the International Ice Patrol off Newfoundland. Each one tells a complete journey, from its arrival to its disappearance.
Each iceberg is given a unique illustrated shape, drawn for it, which appears on the certificate.
2. You adopt it or give it
When you buy, you choose:
- the name that will appear on the certificate;
- the mode: for yourself, or as a gift;
- a personal message of a few lines;
- the sending date if it is a gift: the certificate will be emailed to the person on the chosen day, at around 8 a.m. Paris time.
3. The certificate is sent
As soon as you pay, you receive the certificate as a PDF, ready to print. It shows the name of the iceberg, its position, its dimensions, a small world map locating the iceberg, its shape as a watermark and your message. The certificate is available in French, English, Spanish and Chinese.
4. The options
- An online ownership page with a QR code (+€4.99), to share with friends and family.
- News every year by email, free of charge: the state of the iceberg when the data allow, and that of the sea ice.
- An optional climate contribution in the basket, passed on to Stripe Climate to fund carbon removal technologies.
Iceberg D15A
Antarctica · 3,037 km² · 94 × 41 km
from €39.99
Iceberg B22A
Antarctica · 1,229 km² · 54 × 46 km
from €39.99
Iceberg A81
Antarctica · 1,221 km² · 52 × 46 km
from €39.99
Iceberg C36
Antarctica · 848 km² · 43 × 30 km
from €29.99
Iceberg IIP 20014
Iceberg Alley · 16 sightings in 2021
from €19.99
Iceberg IIP 20092
Iceberg Alley · 14 sightings in 2021
from €19.99
What is real, and what is symbolic
We want to be transparent, because that is what gives this gift its value.
What is real
- The iceberg exists: it appears in the public reports of the U.S. National Ice Center or the International Ice Patrol.
- Its position and dimensions come from these public data, updated every time the site is rebuilt for Antarctica.
- The satellite images, where available, come from NASA's public GIBS service.
What is symbolic
- Adoption confers no property rights. The ice of the Southern Ocean falls under the Antarctic Treaty, and nobody can own an iceberg.
- The shape on the certificate is illustrative and not contractual: it is drawn for each iceberg, but does not reproduce its exact outline.
- An iceberg does not last forever. It always ends up breaking apart and melting, sometimes within months, sometimes over decades. That is also what makes it such a powerful symbol.
Why it is a meaningful gift
It makes a distant phenomenon concrete
Melting ice is one of the clearest signs of climate change, but it happens far away from us. Following a real iceberg, with a name and a position, makes it tangible. For the background, read our articles on sea ice and melting ice.
It doesn't guilt-trip
This is not a preachy gift: it is first and foremost a lovely surprise, a story to tell. Awareness comes naturally, when reading the news about their iceberg.
It creates no clutter
No object to manufacture, no packaging, no delivery: the certificate is digital, and anyone can print it if they wish.
Who to give it to
- Curious children and teenagers: it is a gateway to geography, science and ecology. They can follow their iceberg's drift on a map.
- Lovers of travel and the Far North: an Iceberg Alley iceberg for those who dream of Newfoundland, an Antarctic giant for explorers at heart.
- People who care about the environment: a gift consistent with their values.
- People who already have everything: the surprise is guaranteed.
- For a new baby: an iceberg in the child's name, whose story will be told to them.
Choose an iceberg to giveInstant PDF certificate · delivery on the date of your choice · from €19.99
Frequently asked questions
Does the person become the owner of the iceberg?
No. The certificate is a symbolic gift. The ice of the Southern Ocean falls under the Antarctic Treaty and nobody can own it. You are giving a keepsake document and a place in our register.
Are the icebergs really real?
Yes. They are icebergs tracked by the U.S. National Ice Center (Antarctica) and the International Ice Patrol (Iceberg Alley, 2021), whose data are public. Their name, position and dimensions come from these sources.
How much does it cost to adopt an iceberg?
From €19.99 to €39.99 depending on the iceberg, the largest Antarctic icebergs being the most expensive. Prices can also be shown in US dollars. The online ownership page with a QR code is an option at €4.99.
What happens when the iceberg melts?
That is the natural fate of every iceberg. The certificate remains a keepsake, and if you chose the yearly news, the person is kept informed about their iceberg and the sea ice.
Can I give an iceberg at the last minute?
Yes. The certificate is emailed as soon as you pay, or on the date of your choice. There is no delivery time.