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![]() The larger glaciers of Southern Jostedalsbreen |
![]() The larger glaciers of Breheimen |
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Last updated: May 26, 2001 | Unless otherwise specified; text, tables, photographs, maps and other graphics © 1999-2001 Gunnar Ljungstrand | ||||||
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Breheimen proper is the area east of Jostedalen and west of Jotunheimen. It is a typical transitional area; the western part is characterized by ice caps while the eastern part is more alpine. The area is consideraby more continental than the rest of Breheimen, in particular the northeastern part, and it is only because the mountains re higher that there are larger glaciers at all there. The highest peak in the area is Nordre Hestbrepiggen (2172 m) in the easternmost part, while Tverrådalskyrkja (2087 m) dominates the western part.
# | Name | Type | Area (km2) | Length (km) | Lowest point (m) | Highest point (m) | Height difference (m) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fantelibreen | Glacier complex | 3.00 | 2.8 | 1330 | 1630 | 300 |
1a. | of which Vanndalsbreen | Ice cap | 0.70 | 1.0 | 1410 | 1630 | 220 |
1b. | of which Vestre Smådalsbreen | Ice cap | 2.30 | 2.6 | 1330 | 1630 | 300 |
2. | Spørteggbreen | Glacier complex | 25.49 | 7.1 | 1135 | 1755 | 620 |
2a. | of which Holmevassbreen | Ice cap | 1.57 | 1.8 | 1450 | 1755 | 305 |
2b. | of which Leirbotnbreen | Valley glacier | 3.23 | 4.1 | 1135 | 1755 | 620 |
2c. | of which Grånosbreen | Ice cap | 7.30 | 5.2 | 1280 | 1745 | 465 |
2d. | of which Langgrøbreen | Ice cap | 2.12 | 1.7 | 1430 | 1615 | 185 |
2e. | of which Austre Smådalsbreen | Ice cap | 7.41 | 4.8 | 1330 | 1710 | 380 |
2f. | of which Søre Geisdalsbreen | Ice cap | 1.79 | 2.2 | 1445 | 1670 | 225 |
2g. | of which Nordre Geisdalsbreen | Ice cap | 2.07 | 3.1 | 1355 | 1755 | 400 |
3. | Gluggevardbreen | Ice cap | 1.32 | 3.0 | 1450 | 1695 | 245 |
4. | Greinbreen | Glacier complex | 5.25 | 3.2 | 1180 | 1840 | 660 |
4a. | of which Sprongeggibreen | Ice cap | 0.75 | 1.5 | 1275 | 1840 | 565 |
4b. | of which Sprongdalsbreen | Ice cap | 1.58 | 2.7 | 1180 | 1840 | 660 |
4c. | of which Greineggibreen | Ice cap | 2.92 | 1.9 | 1450 | 1830 | 380 |
5. | Tverrbotnbreen | Glacier complex | 3.80 | 3.6 | 1475 | 1930 | 455 |
5a. | of which Rivenosbreen | Ice cap | 1.79 | 1.6 | 1475 | 1920 | 445 |
5b. | of which Isvassbreen | Ice cap | 2.01 | 1.8 | 1500 | 1930 | 430 |
6. | Harbardsbreen | Glacier complex | 38.45 | 12.9 | 1240 | 2015 | 775 |
6a. | of which Steindalsbreen | Valley glacier | 14.46 | 8.6 | 1240 | 1980 | 740 |
6b. | of which Leirvassbreen | Ice cap | 4.49 | 3.2 | 1275 | 1720 | 445 |
6c. | of which Løndalsbreen | Ice cap | 3.57 | 3.0 | 1405 | 1670 | 265 |
6d. | of which Rausdalsbreen | Ice cap | 2.02 | 1.6 | 1470 | 1720 | 250 |
6e. | of which Austre Kollebreen | Valley glacier | 4.46 | 3.3 | 1385 | 1940 | 555 |
6f. | of which Vestre Kollebreen | Ice cap | 1.09 | 1.7 | 1425 | 1785 | 360 |
6g. | of which Fortundalsbreen | Valley glacier | 6.72 | 4.6 | 1380 | 2015 | 635 |
6h. | of which Steineggibreen | Cirque glacier | 1.64 | 2.4 | 1400 | 1960 | 560 |
7. | Sveidalsbreen | Ice cap | 2.91 | 2.0 | 1335 | 1700 | 365 |
8. | Holåbreen | Glacier complex | 20.65 | 8.6 | 1430 | 2030 | 600 |
8a. | of which Tussetindbreen | Cirque glacier | 1.13 | 1.1 | 1505 | 1795 | 290 |
8b. | of which Illvassbreen | Cirque glacier | 2.18 | 2.6 | 1550 | 2020 | 470 |
8c. | of which Ytre Gjelåbreen | Valley glacier | 7.04 | 4.6 | 1435 | 2030 | 595 |
8d. | of which Lundadalsbreen | Ice cap | 10.30 | 6.2 | 1430 | 1920 | 490 |
9. | Midtre Gjelåbreen | Cirque glacier | 2.47 | 1.8 | 1605 | 1960 | 355 |
10. | Heimste Gjelåbreen | Ice cap | 1.21 | 0.8 | 1600 | 1920 | 320 |
11. | Grjotåbreen | Cirque glacier | 3.18 | 1.7 | 1575 | 2065 | 490 |
12. | Hestedalsbreen | Ice cap | 1.34 | 1.2 | 1520 | 1965 | 445 |
13. | Vestre Høybreen | Cirque glacier | 3.87 | 2.2 | 1460 | 1970 | 510 |
14. | Austre Høybreen | Cirque glacier | 3.13 | 2.2 | 1595 | 2060 | 465 |
15. | Isaksteinbreen | Ice cap | 1.53 | 1.7 | 1660 | 2130 | 470 |
16. | Ystebreen | Valley glacier | 3.51 | 3.1 | 1555 | 2110 | 555 |
17. | Heimstebreen | Valley glacier | 3.46 | 2.6 | 1580 | 2150 | 570 |
18. | Høgsetbreen | Cirque glacier | 1.09 | 1.8 | 1610 | 2080 | 470 |
19. | Hestbreen | Glacier complex | 3.05 | 3.9 | 1500 | 1940 | 440 |
19a. | of which Hestfonna | Ice cap | 1.24 | 1.2 | 1500 | 1820 | 320 |
19b. | of which Runningsbreen | Ice cap | 1.81 | 1.1 | 1750 | 1940 | 190 |
20. | Sandgrovbreen | Ice cap | 1.14 | 1.8 | 1625 | 2005 | 380 |
21. | Møydulbreen | Ice cap | 1.07 | 1.2 | 1490 | 2010 | 520 |
22. | Søre Liabreen | Ice cap | 1.13 | 0.9 | 1450 | 1760 | 310 |
23. | Midtre Liabreen | Ice cap | 1.09 | 0.8 | 1465 | 1880 | 415 |
24. | Austre Liabreen | Ice cap | 1.20 | 1.7 | 1460 | 1800 | 340 |
Total | 134.34 |
Fantelibreen (3.00 km2) is an ice cap east of Jostedalen, right to the southwest of the much larger Spørteggbreen, of which it until quite recently was a part. It is fairly thin, with a maximum ice thickness of some 90 m.
Vanndalsbreen (0.70 km2) is a small tongue from Fantelibreen, which flows down westwards towards Vanndalen. It ends in a small lake with a 400 m wide ice cliff.
Vestre Smådalsbreen (2.30 km2) is the largest part of Fantelibreen, a rather wide ice tongue which turns eastwards. Just some 10 years ago it was continuos with Austre Smådalsbreen in Spørteggbreen, but since then a lake has formed and the ice tongues have separated due to rather intense calving. The ice cliff is some 500 m wide.
Spørteggbreen (25.49 km2) is a large ice cap east of Jostedalen. The highest peak in it is Grånosi (1775 m). Like so many other glaciers Spørteggbreen too has diminished a lot during the 20th century, and as late as around 1990 increased calving in a new lake caused the southwesternmost part to be disconnected (Fantelibreen). Measurements of sediment layers in lakes close to Spørteggbreen show that this glacier didn´t start to reform until during the first phase of the Little Ice Age, around year 1500.
Maps based on data from Kennett, Mike; Kartlegging av istykkelse og feltavgrensninp på Spørteggbreen 1989, supplemented by own observations.
Between 1988 and 1991 NVE performed mass balance measurements here, and in 1989 they charted the bed topography beneath the ice too. There is a relatively deep valley in the western part and several smaller overdeepened basins. The largest ice thickness is about 315 m with and ice volume of some 3.0 km3 and an average depth of 113 m. Fantelibreen, which earlier was a part of Spørteggbreen, is thin with a max depth of some 90 m, a volume of 0.15 km3 and an average depth of 46 m.
Holmevassbreen (1.57 km2) is a small, rather thin lobe in northern Spørteggbreen.
Leirbotnbreen (3.23 km2) is a valley glacier in the northern part of Spørteggbreen, on the north side of Grånosi (1775 m). A small icefall leads down to the tongue from the upper snow plateau. The tongue lies in a overdeepened basin with an ice thickness of 150 m, but in the upper parts there is a depression where the ice is 250 m thick.
Grånosbreen (7.30 km2) is a large and evenly sloping outlet of Spørteggbreen, which slowly glides down eastward towards Mørkrisdalen. The ice flows over two depressions with 220 and 240 m thick ice, respectively, but in between a mountain juts up, where the ice is only some tens of m thick. This is marked by a steeper and more crevassed patch on the surface.
Langgrøbreen (2.12 km2) is a small ice cap in the southeastern part of Spørteggbreen, with up to some 130 m thick ice.
Austre Smådalsbreen (7.41 km2) is the largest outlet glacier of Spørteggbreen, a wide ice tongue gliding southwards towards Smådalane. The slope is rather gentle and even, except just before the snout, where it gets a little steeper. The western part of the glacier tongue reaches down into a newly formed ice lake and calves with a 500 m wide ice cliff. As late as around 1990 the ice here was continuos with the tongue from Fantelibreen. Below this part of Spørteggbreen a deep valley runs in north-south direction, with four overdeepened basins. From north the ice is 275, 300, 290, and 240 m thick in the depressions, including the highest measured value on the entire ice cap.
Søre Geisdalsbreen (1.79 km2) is a small, thin lobe of Spørteggbreen, at its western edge. Its snout calves in a small lake.
Nordre Geisdalsbreen (2.07 km2) is a small outlet from western Spørteggbreen. From a snow plateau a relatively steep, but fairly thin ice tongue flows down into uppermost Geisdalen. The snout of this glacier too ends in a small lake.
Gluggevardbreen (1.32 km2) is a small ice cap east of Sprongdalen.
Greinbreen (5.25 km2), a medium-sized ice cap south of Sprongdalen, lies on the east slope of Greineggi (1847 m).
Sprongeggibreen (0.75 km2) is a small steep ice cap in Greinbreen, on the north flank of Greineggi.
Sprongdalsbreen (1.58 km2) is an ice cap in northern Greinbreen. From the plateau-like accumulation area a rather narrow and steep ice tongue leads down into uppermost Sprongdalen.
Greineggibreen (2.92 km2) is an ice cap in southern Greinbreen. It has a rather wide and roundish ice tongue towards the south.
Tverrbotnbreen (3.80 km2), an ice cap east of Sprongdalen, lies on the north and east sides of Rivenoskulen (1943 m).
Rivenosbreen (1.79 km2) is an ice cap in northern Tverrbotnbreen, on the north side of Rivenoskulen.
Isvassbreen (2.01 km2), an ice cap in Tverrbotnbreen, lies on the east slope of Rivenoskulen, above Isvatnet.
Harbardsbreen (38.45 km2) is a very large glacier complex in central Breheimen proper. The southern part is a classical ice cap with an ice dome as its highest point (1720 m), while the northern part is a complex of alpine glaciers around the dominating peak Tverrådalskyrkja (2087 m). The largest outlet glacier is Steindalsbreen.
Steindalsbreen (14.46 km2) is the largest outlet glacier from Harbardsbreen and a valley glacier of significant size. It starts up on the west flank of Tverrådalskyrkja and glides southwards in a fairly even slope. After a few kilometers it gets a substantial ice contribution from the ice dome (1720 m), and at the meeting point there is a rather significant ice-dammed lake, which seems to be drained yearly. Then the ice turns towards southeast down into Steindalen, where another ice stream from the southern ice dome is added.
Since 1996 NVE has performed mass balance measurements here. A comparison of maps from 1966 and 1996 shows that most of the glacier has become thinner, but in some places in the upper parts, particularly on the ice dome, the ice has become considerably thicker. Steindalsbreen is still retreating, but gradually the retreat should stop and possibly even turn into an advance eventually. In 1999 radar measurements of the ice thickness in the flat area just downstream of the ice-dammed lake was performed by NVE. The result shows that the ice is at most some 160 m thick in this area.
Leirvassbreen (4.49 km2) is an outlet from southern Harbardsbreen. The ice glides southwards from the ice dome towards the mountain side above Leirvatnet, where a narrow, steep and crevassed ice tongue hangs down.
Løndalsbreen (3.57 km2) is an outlet glacier in southwestern Harbardsbreen, northwest of Leirvatnet.
Rausdalsbreen (2.02 km2), an ice cap in western Harbardsbreen, lies on the west side of the ice dome. It ends in a small lake.
Austre Kollebreen (4.46 km2) is a valley glacier in Harbardsbreen, on the west side of Tverrådalskyrkja. It calves in a small lake with a 500 m wide ice cliff.
Vestre Kollebreen (1.09 km2), an ice cap in northwestern Harbardsbreen, lies on the north side of Røykjeskardhøe.
Fortundalsbreen (6.72 km2) is a rather large valley glacier in northeastern Harbardsbreen, on the east side of Tverrådalskyrkja (2087 m). From a fairly steep accumulation area the ice flows first towards NE, and then turns towards south in a rather wide ice tongue in uppermost Nørdstedalen.
Steineggibreen (1.64 km2) is a cirque glacier in eastern Harbardsbreen, north of Steineggi. It is rather steep and heavily crevassed.
Sveidalsbreen (2.91 km2) is an ice cap on the east side of Sveidalsnosi (1708 m), between Mørkrisdalen and Fortunsdalen.
Holåbreen (20.65 km2) is a large glacier complex in northern Breheimen, between Lundadalen and Tundradalen. It has partly alpine and partly ice cap character.
Tussetindbreen (1.13 km2) is a cirque glacier in southern Holåbreen, south of Tussetinden (2047 m).
Illvassbreen (2.18 km2), a fairly large cirque glacier in southwestern Holåbreen, glides down towards SW and calves in a small lake with a 300 m wide ice cliff.
Ytre Gjelåbreen (7.04 km2) is a large valley glacier in western Holåbreen. It flows down towards north in an even and rather gentle slope from Holåtindan (2039, 2047, och 2043 m).
Lundadalsbreen (10.30 km2) is a large ice cap in eastern Holåbreen. A wide ice tongue slowly glides down towards NE and Lundadalen from a large ice plateau.
Midtre Gjelåbreen (2.47 km2) is a cirque glacier on the north side of Gjelhøi (1982 m).
Heimste Gjelåbreen (1.21 km2) is a small ice cap on Steinflya.
Grjotåbreen (3.18 km2) is a pretty large cirque glacier on the north side of Hestedalshøgdi (2091 m), south of Grjotådalen.
Hestedalsbreen (1.34 km2) is an ice cap on the north side of Hestedalshøgdi (1978 m).
Vestre Høybreen (3.87 km2) is a large cirque glacier in the southwestern Hestbrepigg massif, south of Vestre Hestbrepiggen (2139 m). Earlier this glacier was continuos with its eastern neighbor, Austre Høybreen.
Austre Høybreen (3.13 km2) is a large cirque glacier in the western Hestbrepigg massif, which previously has been continuos with Vestre Høybreen right to the west.
Isaksteinbreen (1.53 km2) is an ice cap north of Vestre Hestbrepiggen.
Ystebreen (3.51 km2) is a fairly large valley glacier in the central Hestbrepigg massif, west of Nordre Hestbrepiggen (2172 m), the highest peak in entire Breheimen. Its upper part is called Grautfatet (the porridge dish) and from there the ice streams northward towards the mountain side above Lundadalen. During the Little Ice Age the glacier tongue reached all the way down into the valley bottom, but now it stands entirely above the precipice.
Heimstebreen (3.46 km2) is a pretty large valley glacier in the eastern Hestbrepigg massif, east of Nordre Hestbrepiggen. A rather wide accumulation area collects to a tongue gliding down northward, towards Lundadalen. This glacier too reached almost all the way down into the valley bottom during the Little Ice Age.
Høgsetbreen (1.09 km2) is a cirque glacier in the southeastern Hestbrepigg massif.
Hestbreen (3.05 km2), a small ice cap complex, lies on Storberka east of Hestbrepiggan.
Hestfonna (1.24 km2), the northern part of Hestbreen, is a small ice cap.
Runningsbreen (1.81 km2) is a small ice cap in Hestbreen.
Sandgrovbreen (1.14 km2) is a small ice cap on the north side of Hesthøi (2021 m).
Møydulbreen (1.07 km2), a small ice cap, lies on the east side of Moldulhøi (2044 m).
Søre Liabreen (1.13 km2) is an ice cap and one of a number of fragments of the previously significant Liabreen, which surrounded Liabrekulen (1910 m).
Midtre Liabreen (1.09 km2) lies on the northeast and southeast sides of Liabrekulen and is another fragment.
Austre Liabreen (1.20 km2), the easternmost fragment, glides down towards northeast and down into Liabrevatnet.
![]() |
![]() Top of document |
![]() The larger glaciers of Southern Jostedalsbreen |
![]() The larger glaciers of Breheimen |
![]() Site map |
![]() Email the author |
![]() Copyleft information |
![]() Detta dokument på svenska |
Last updated: May 26, 2001 | Unless otherwise specified; text, tables, photographs, maps and other graphics © 1999-2001 Gunnar Ljungstrand | ||||||
Images with size information (xx kB) leads to the corresponding image in 4 x better resolution. |