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Scandic Hotels – in all major cities from north to south
Nordic Choice Hotels – a different hotel company
Thon Hotels – with fantastic breakfast
Radisson Blu Hotels – discover your favourite destinations
Citybox – modern and affordable hotels in a central location
Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia
AutoEurope – always a smooth car rental experience
Vy express – travel with bus throughout Norway
DFDS – Europe’s leading ferry operator 2012-2020
Rent-A-Wreck – the smart car rental alternative
Arctic Campers – Norway’s camper van rental
NOR-WAY Bussekspress – travel green with express busses
Vy – it should be easy to travel green
Cabin Campers – your cottage on four wheels
SJ NORD – the adventure starts on the train
Hurtigruten – "The World’s Most Beautiful Sea Voyage"
Authentic Scandinavia – exciting Norway tours
Up Norway – tailored journeys
Norrøna Hvitserk – expeditions and adventure holidays
Fjord Tours – experience Norway in a nutshell® with one ticket
50 Degrees North – unforgettable tailor-made and small group tours to Norway
Discover Norway – skiing, biking and hiking tours in Norway
Norwegian Holidays – low-price package holidays with Norwegian. Flight, hotel and rental car
Secret Atlas – Svalbard and Northern Norway. Small Ship with 12 guests.
DanCenter – your specialist in holiday homes in Norway
Norgesbooking – book your perfect cabin stay in Norway
Beitostølen – adventure and delight all year
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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.
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.
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.
Glaciers consist of layers of snow that over a long time are compressed into ice.
The ice masses make many glaciers move like very slow rivers.
Glaciers represent about 10 per cent of the earth’s land area and are considered remains of the latest ice age.
The ice masses can become several hundred years old.
Glacier analyses give scientists important information about global climate changes and future environmental scenarios.
Front: The head of a hillside glacier.
Outlet: An arm of a main glacier.
Retreat: How a glacier melts, shrinks, gets shorter.
Jøkul: Ancient Norwegian term for glacier, still in use on Iceland.
Jøkulhlaup: A jøkulhlaup or Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a sudden release of water from a glacier. The water source can be a glacier-dammed lake, a pro-glacial moraine-dammed lake or water stored within, under or on the glacier.
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.
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.
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.
One of the most accessible branches of the Jostedalsbreen glacier, located in Luster municipality in Vestland county.
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.
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.
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.
Glaciers consist of layers of snow that over a long time are compressed into ice.
The ice masses make many glaciers move like very slow rivers.
Glaciers represent about 10 per cent of the earth’s land area and are considered remains of the latest ice age.
The ice masses can become several hundred years old.
Glacier analyses give scientists important information about global climate changes and future environmental scenarios.
2534: The number of glaciers in Norway.
2692 square kilometres: Glacier area in Norway (57 per cent in the southern part of Norway and 43 per cent in Northern Norway).
636 metres: Deepest measured ice thickness is the Svartisen glacier.
20 metres above sea level: Where the Engabreen glacier ends and the lowest point of any glacier on the European mainland.
(All numbers are subject to change).
Crampons, footwear with spikes (“stegjern”).
Ice axe, tool attached to hand wrist for better climbing.
Rope securing glacier hikers and making sure that everybody stay in a group.
2534: The number of glaciers in Norway.
2692 square kilometres: Glacier area in Norway (57 per cent in the southern part of Norway and 43 per cent in Northern Norway).
636 metres: Deepest measured ice thickness is the Svartisen glacier.
20 metres above sea level: Where the Engabreen glacier ends and the lowest point of any glacier on the European mainland.
(All numbers are subject to change).
Crampons, footwear with spikes (“stegjern”).
Ice axe, tool attached to hand wrist for better climbing.
Rope securing glacier hikers and making sure that everybody stay in a group.
Guests from all over the world come to visit this famous glacier arm set attractively between roaring…
Go to: Briksdalsbreen GlacierGuests from all over the world come to visit this famous glacier arm set attractively between roaring…
This is one of the most accessible glaciers, where you can peer into the blue ice at very close range, and…
Go to: Nigardsbreen GlacierThis is one of the most accessible glaciers, where you can peer into the blue ice at very close range, and…
Engenbreen, part of Svartisen, is a popular hiking destination when traveling along Kystriksveien. You will…
Go to: Svartisen glacierEngenbreen, part of Svartisen, is a popular hiking destination when traveling along Kystriksveien. You will…
Folgefonna is Norway's third largest glacier, and is known for its dramatic and beautiful scenery. Here you…
Go to: Folgefonna National ParkFolgefonna is Norway's third largest glacier, and is known for its dramatic and beautiful scenery. Here you…
Norway is an incredible place to explore, with untamed mythical landscapes, mountains, valleys, and fjords. Before you enter the outdoors, get familiar with the nine simple rules of the Norwegian mountain code to help you stay safe.
See our selection of companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.
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