#jostedalsbreen

Norge: Bergsetbreen, Jostedalen, Sogn. Arm av Jostedalsbreen, det europeiske fastlands største, 1252 km².

Briksdalsbreen glacier

The mother glacier (Jostedalsbreen, the largest in continental Europe) lies behind the ridge of rock over which the arm (one of 50) known by this tongue twisting name flows in its downhill journey to a small melt water lake. Located in Norway's Jostedalsbreen National Park, it has been oscillating back and forth for a century, alternately advancing and retreating, following the vagaries of temperature and precipitation patterns. The region sees very high snowfalls, making this glacier one of the few to actually advance on occasion, though it is currently in retreat.

It is a major tourist attraction gleaming with natural beauty, surrounded by waterfalls and high peaks. Parts of the glacier are off limits to visitors, due to high avalanche and ice fall hazards but guides are available for the adventurous. Due to the retreat, and the possibility that it might disconnect from its mother glacier, ice climbing has been stopped for the last several years.

Loz

Image credit: Svein-Magne Tunli