GLACIERS

Allow yourself to be mesmerised by the beauty and the silent power of the ice, but always respect mighty Mother Nature.

Always exercise caution when exploring a glacier or getting close to one of its branches.

Never walk on a glacier on your own. Hidden crevasses, avalanches, and the constant, unpredictable movement of the ice make it dangerous without proper knowledge and equipment. Glaciers can also calve, meaning large blocks of ice suddenly break off – especially near the glacier front and in the water – creating powerful waves and hazardous conditions.

With a certified guide, however, a glacier hike becomes a safe and potentially unforgettable adventure.

Glacier ice may look still, but it is always moving. Over thousands of years, Ice Age glaciers carved out Norway’s dramatic fjords, valleys, and steep mountainsides — and the remnants of those prehistoric giants can still be experienced today.

Some glaciers, like Tystigbreen, are home to summer ski resorts with prepared slopes where you can ski and snowboard while getting a tan in a t-shirt. The meltwater produces lush valleys below, with rivers and fjords that have a distinct greenish glow.

Receding glaciers

In Norway, as in the rest of the world, temperatures are rising due to climate change, and the glaciers are slowly melting. The total area covered by glaciers has decreased by 11 per cent in the last 30 years, according to the Center for International Climate Research (CICERO). Since the mid-1980s, as many as 326 square kilometres have disappeared. The ice is retreating most rapidly in the northern parts of the country.

You can reduce your carbon footprint by becoming a sustainable traveller. Stay longer and explore more when visiting an area. Buy locally-sourced food and goods and make informed and sustainable choices.

Don't feel like going for a challenging hike? Many magnificent glaciers are visible at a distance, including Svartisen in Northern Norway.

Norway’s most popular glaciers

Jostedalsbreen

Situated in Vestland county in Fjord Norway, Jostedalsbreen is the largest glacier in continental Europe, covering 487 square kilometres with ice up to 600 metres thick.

The glacier is split up into more than 50 glacier branches, such as the famous Briksdalsbreen and Nigardsbreen glaciers. The glacier is in Jostedalsbreen National Park and covers more than half of the park.

Briksdalsbreen

The glacier is a branch of the Jostedalsbreen glacier and is sometimes referred to as the Olden glacier. It is located in Briksdalen valley at the end of Oldedalen valley in Vestland county.

Nigardsbreen

One of the most easily accessible branches of the Jostedalsbreen glacier, located in Luster municipality in Vestland county.

Svartisen

Svartisen in Northern Norway actually consists of two glaciers – Vestre Svartisen and Østre Svartisen. The glacier is part of Saltfjellet-Svartisen National Park in Nordland county.

Hardangerjøkulen

The glacier is located in the Hardangerfjord region, on the northernmost part of the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. It has several glacier branches, including Blåisen and Midtdalsbreen, and its highest point is 1,863 metres above sea level.

Austfonna, Olav V, and Vestfonna

Located in the Svalbard archipelago, the Austfonna glacier covers 8,412 square kilometres and is Europe’s largest ice cap by area and the second-largest by volume. The ice extends to an elevation of 783 metres above sea level.

Olav V Land is a peninsula in eastern Svalbard. It is covered by the Olav V Ice field, which measures approx. 4,150 square kilometres. Vestfonna is an ice cap located on the western part of the Svalbard archipelago and covers an area of approx. 2,500 square kilometres.

Norwegian glacier centres