A giant iceberg is drifting towards Western Australia, impressing scientists with its capacity to travel so far north while still largely intact.

Australian Antarctic Division glaciologist Neal Young says the iceberg, named B17B, is 1700km south-south-west of the West Australian coast and moving north with the ocean current and prevailing wind.

A satellite image of the giant iceberg heading towards WA.

‘‘B17B is a very significant one in that it has drifted so far north while still largely intact,’’ Dr Young said in a statement on Wednesday.

‘‘It’s one of the biggest sighted at those latitudes, now 48.8 S and 107.5 E.’’