Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Glacier Hikes
» Jotunheimen National Park
» Hardangerjøkulen glacier, Hardangervidda
» Folgefonna National Park
» Nigardsbreen
» Briksdalsbreen
» Bødalsbreen
» Saltfjellet- Svartisen National Park
» Lyngen Alps
» Svalbard
Glaciers
Perhaps it's their sheer scale or their evocation of a world inexorably in motion. Or maybe
it's because glaciers have become a barometer for the health of the planet. Whatever the
reason, few natural landforms inspire quite the same awe as glaciers. Ranking high among
the stand-out natural highlights of the country, Norway's glaciers cover some 2600 sq km
(close to 1% of mainland Norwegian territory and 60% of the Svalbard archipelago). But
this is a far cry from the last Ice Age, when Norway was one vast icefield; the bulk of the
ice melted about 8800 years ago.
Not only are glaciers a stunning tourist attraction, but they also serve an important pur-
pose in Norway's economy: 15% of Norway's electricity derives from river basins below
glaciers.
Concerns about shrinking glaciers and ice sheets in the Arctic have taken on added ur-
gency in recent years as the impact of global warming takes hold. Some of Norway's gla-
ciers retreated by up to 2.5km in the 20th century, while glacial ice is also thinning at an
alarming rate. In 2006 Norway experienced its fourth-hottest summer on record, following
on from above-average temperatures in 2002 and 2003, thereby accelerating the melting of
Norway's glaciers. Inland glaciers are considered to be at far greater risk than Norway's
coastalglaciersandafewNorwegianglaciershavegrowninrecentdecades-thethickness
of the ice on the Nigardsbreen glacier grew by 13.8m from 1977 to 2007. Such stories are,
however, the exception and do little to diminish the otherwise gloomy outlook.
JostedalsbreenismainlandEurope'slargesticecapanditfeedssomeofNorway'slargest
glaciers, among them Nigardsbreen, Briksdalsbreen and Bødalsbreen. Another spectacular
exampleisFolgefonn,whilecentralNorway'sJotunheimenNationalParkaloneishometo
60 glaciers.
