Glaciers

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Glaciers

Due to heavy snowfall and altitudes up to 1800 meter above sea level, 11 of the 20 large glaciers in Norway is in Fjord Norway. To join an organized glacier walk is a must-do while visiting the region. These large, slow-moving masses of ice, create a landscape unlike anything else.

Glaciers are formed from compacted layers of snow, that slowly deforms and flows in response to gravity and high pressure. Glacier ice is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, and second only to oceans as the largest reservoir of total water. It is thanks to the expansion during the ice ages the fjords of the area was formed. The glaciers in Fjord Norway probably melted away completely during a period about 5000 - 8000 years ago when the climate was hotter. Once the climate again started to cool down, the glaciers reformed. During the 1990s the glaciers along the coast of Fjord Norway advanced, but because of less snow and warmer summers than normal, this trend has been reversed the last 10 years. The glaciers of the world are sensitive monitors of climate conditions and are crucial to both world water resources and sea level variation.

Glacier walking is the highlight of the Fjord Norway travel for many visitors. Experienced glacier guides will ensure that the expedition is tailored to the capabilities of the walkers. You will remember the glacier for its endless white expanses, the frighteningly deep crevasses - and the brilliant light in all the colours of the rainbow. The glacial ice reflects more blue than red and yellow light and the effect is like nothing you have ever seen before. From time to time a block of ice may break away - a marvellous experience at a distance, but dangerous close up. Remember to respect the natural forces involved and never go onto a glacier alone or venture beyond the safety barriers. Not all glaciers are accessible to tourists, but guided glacier walks can be experienced at Folgefonna glacier (in Jondal), Jostedalsbreen glacier (Jostedalen, Briksdalen and Jølster) and Hardangerjøkulen (Finse). The local tourist information offices will also provide you with the information you require.

Luster

Austerdalsbreen Glacier, Veitastrond/ Luster

"The finest ice scenery in Europe", said the English mountaineer W.C. Slingsby about Austerdalsbreen and the three ice falls called Loke, Odin and Tor. From Hafslo in Luster it is possible to drive to Veitastrond and then further on to the mountain farm of Tungestølen.

Stryn

Bødal Glacier

The Bødalssetra dairy, located 16 km from Loen, is a good starting point for glacier walks to the Bødal glacier. NB It is very dangerous to move close to...

Brenndalsbreen Glacier

Briksdal Glacier

The huge Briksdal Glacier forms part of the Jostedal Glacier National Park. The wild glacier slope plunges from a height of 1200 metres down to the lush,...

Flatbreen / Supphellebreen

The Flatbreen glacier can be seen from the fjord, and can be reached on foot. The beautiful walk up to the glacier and the Flatbrehytta cabin takes about 3...

Kvinnherad

Folgefonna National Park

Norway’s third biggest glacier covers a total area of 214 km2. The summit of Folgefonna is 1,662 metres above sea level. There are paths up from Sundal and...

Etne

Folgefonna National Park

Norway's third largest glacier. In 2005 Folgefonna National Park was opened, which at the time was Norway's twenty fifth national park. Folgefonna is known for...

Vik

Fresvikbreen

Fresvikbreen is a glacier on the south side of Sognefjorden in Vik, Sogn og Fjordane. It lies between Setjedalen in the west, and Storedalen in the east, and is close to the village of Fresvik. The glacier has an area of 15 km² and its highest point is 1648 metres above sea level. Fresvikbreen is the 23rd largest glacier on the Norwegian mainland.

Jostedalsbreen nasjonalpark

Jostedal Glacier, the largest glacier on mainland Europe. 100 kms long and with countless arms reaching down to the valleys in Sunnfjord, Nordfjord and Sogn....

Stryn

Jostedalsbreen National Park

Jostedalsbreen National Park Jostedalsbreen National Park, which was founded in 1991, covers an area of 1,310 square kilometres. Jostedalsbreen is the biggest...

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Fjord Norway Travel Guide

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OUR DESTINATIONS