Why were icebergs between Greenland and Baffin Island dangerous for ships entering the Northwest Passage?

The icebergs drifting between Greenland and Baffin Island posed a severe maritime hazard for ships attempting to enter the Northwest Passage for several critical reasons:

• Sheer Scale and Volume: The region features a constant stream of tens of thousands of giant icebergs, which can reach heights of up to 300 feet (90 meters). Navigating through such a dense concentration of massive ice structures presented a constant risk of collision.1
• Hidden Dangers: Decaying icebergs often shed smaller fragments known as "growlers" and "bergy bits." While these are smaller than the parent icebergs, they possess significant mass—up to 120 tons for growlers and 5,400 tons for bergy bits—and are capable of sinking or severely damaging a ship. Furthermore, these smaller pieces can be difficult to detect visually against whitecaps and foam, and they may have a low radar cross-section in heavy seas.2
• Unpredictable Stability: Icebergs are dynamic objects that frequently roll over as they melt and lose mass. This process of capsizing makes them inherently unstable and unpredictable for nearby vessels.32
• Environmental Conditions: The icebergs are transported southward by the cold Labrador Current, often becoming embedded in winter sea ice. This environment, combined with frequent storms and the physical challenges of the Arctic climate, made the transit one of the world's most dangerous maritime endeavors.145