Glaciers

Sometimes you need a reminder of the vast forces of nature – that there are some things, even in our modern society, that cannot be tamed. Glacier hiking makes for one of those moments.

Mighty mother nature

Glaciers like the mighty Jostedalsbreen make you feel small in the landscape and can be as unforgiving as they are magnificent. Always be careful when experiencing a glacier or one of its branches up close.

Due to deep crevasses, avalanches, and the constant and unpredictable movement of the ice blocks, you should never go out on a glacier on your own. With professional guides and equipment to ensure your safety, though, hiking a glacier in Norway is an unforgettable experience – a true adventure.

Even when hundreds of meters deep, the ice is always on the move and is strong enough to literally shape the Earth. It was the Ice Age glaciers that carved out Norway’s characteristic fjords, valleys, and steep mountainsides. Remnants of those prehistoric glaciers remain.

At the Norwegian glacier museum in Fjærland, you can explore them all. An eye-catching building designed by Sverre Fehn, the most prominent Norwegian architect of the postwar era, hosts the interactive museum which gives you knowledge about glaciers and climate in new and innovative ways.

On some glaciers, like Tystigbreen and Folgefonna, there are summer ski resorts with prepared slopes where you can ski and snowboard while tanning in a T-shirt. The meltwater produces lush valleys below, with rivers and fjords coloured by a distinct greenish glow.

Receding glaciers

In Norway, as in the rest of the world, temperatures are rising due to global warming, 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). 326 square kilometres have disappeared since the mid-80s. The ice is retreating most rapidly in the northern parts of the country.

Norway’s most popular glaciers

Austfonna, Olav V and Vestfonna

Located in the Svalbard archipelago the Austfonna glacier covers 8,412 square kilometres and is considered 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 Icefield, which measures about 4,150 square kilometres. Vestfonna is an ice cap located on the western part of the Svalbard archipelago and covers an area of about 2,500 square kilometres.

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

Briksdalsbreen

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

Nigardsbreen

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

Folgefonna

Home to the Fonna glacier ski resort and part of the Folgefonna national park, Folgefonna is a collective term for three glaciers – Nordre Folgefonna, Midtre Folgefonna, and Søndre Folgefonna, all in the Hardanger region of Vestland county.

Svartisen

In reality, Svartisen in Northern Norway 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, far north on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. It has several glacier branches, such as Blåisen and Midtdalsbreen, and the highest point is 1863 metres above sea level.