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![]() Top of document |
![]() The larger glaciers of Jotunheimen |
![]() The larger glaciers of Eastern Jotunheimen |
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![]() Email the author |
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![]() Detta dokument på svenska |
Last updated: March 17, 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. |
To Western Jotunheimen I here count Hurrungane, Smørstabbtindan, the area around Galdhøpiggen (2469 m) and the mountains to the north of lake Tyin. The Hurrungane has many fairly small glaciers between its very sharp peaks, Smørstabbreen is the largest glacier complex in Jotunheimen, the Galdhøpiggen massif has quite a few medium-sized glaciers, while they are generally fairly small in the southwestern part of the area, except for the area around Urdanostind.
Western Jotunheimen borders to Breheimen proper and has a relatively maritime climate with fairly large precipitation. Some glaciers in Western Jotunheimen have begun to advance again, following the increased precipitation in the last few years.
# | Name | Type | Area (km2) | Length (km) | Lowest point (m) | Highest point (m) | Height difference (m) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Fannaråkbreen | Glacier complex | 6.63 | 4.4 | 1390 | 2000 | 610 |
1a. | of which Prestesteinsbreen | Cirque glacier | 3.66 | 2.6 | 1425 | 2000 | 575 |
1b. | of which Steindalsbreen | Ice cap | 0.88 | 1.1 | 1510 | 1675 | 165 |
1c. | of which Kongsdalsbreen | Ice cap | 2.09 | 2.1 | 1390 | 1705 | 315 |
2. | Berdalsbreen | Cirque glacier | 1.13 | 1.6 | 1510 | 1970 | 460 |
3. | Ringsbreen | Cirque glacier | 2.19 | 1.9 | 1195 | 2085 | 890 |
4. | Stølsmaradalsbreen | Cirque glacier | 2.58 | 2.2 | 1360 | 1840 | 480 |
5. | Bandbreen | Glacier complex | 2.01 | 3.2 | 1200 | 1930 | 730 |
5a. | of which Midtmaradalsbreen | Cirque glacier | 0.98 | 2.3 | 1200 | 1825 | 625 |
5b. | of which Skagastølsbreen | Cirque glacier | 1.03 | 1.1 | 1500 | 1930 | 430 |
6. | Styggedalsbreen | Valley glacier | 1.98 | 3.2 | 1270 | 2275 | 1005 |
7. | Gjertvassbreen | Cirque glacier | 1.66 | 1.8 | 1440 | 2350 | 910 |
8. | Maradalsbreen | Valley glacier | 2.38 | 3.8 | 1250 | 2125 | 875 |
9. | Hurrbreen | Valley glacier | 2.25 | 3.0 | 1370 | 2020 | 650 |
10. | Veslbreen | Valley glacier | 1.59 | 2.8 | 1420 | 2065 | 645 |
11. | Storbreen | Valley glacier | 5.19 | 3.2 | 1365 | 2070 | 705 |
12. | Bjørnebreen | Cirque glacier | 1.20 | 1.9 | 1535 | 2200 | 665 |
13. | Smørstabbreen | Glacier complex | 16.65 | 6.9 | 1390 | 2080 | 690 |
13a. | of which Leirbreen | Valley glacier | 4.97 | 3.7 | 1510 | 2075 | 565 |
13b. | of which Bøverbreen | Ice cap | 7.82 | 5.0 | 1415 | 2060 | 645 |
13c. | of which Vestre Gravdalsbreen | Cirque glacier | 0.38 | 0.7 | 1700 | 1975 | 275 |
13d. | of which Austre Gravdalsbreen | Cirque glacier | 0.85 | 1.2 | 1610 | 2040 | 430 |
13e. | of which Sandelvbreen | Valley glacier | 2.63 | 3.2 | 1390 | 2080 | 690 |
14. | Dumhøbreen | Ice cap | 1.18 | 2.1 | 1755 | 2160 | 405 |
15. | Heimre Illåbreen | Valley glacier | 1.88 | 3.4 | 1515 | 2130 | 615 |
16. | Storgjuvbreen | Valley glacier | 4.68 | 4.8 | 1375 | 2255 | 880 |
17. | Veslgjuvbreen | Ice cap | 0.97 | 1.3 | 1835 | 2205 | 370 |
18. | Styggebreen | Valley glacier | 5.33 | 4.3 | 1660 | 2460 | 800 |
19. | Svellnosbreen | Valley glacier | 5.11 | 4.2 | 1605 | 2290 | 685 |
20. | Ymelsbreen | Glacier complex | 12.18 | 7.2 | 1435 | 2200 | 765 |
20a. | of which Nordre Illåbreen | Valley glacier | 3.41 | 3.3 | 1590 | 2180 | 590 |
20b. | of which Tverråbreen | Valley glacier | 5.63 | 4.6 | 1435 | 2200 | 765 |
20c. | of which Bukkeholsbreen | Valley glacier | 3.14 | 3.3 | 1595 | 2145 | 550 |
21. | Søre Illåbreen | Valley glacier | 4.91 | 4.1 | 1520 | 2130 | 610 |
22. | Stølsnosbreen | Glacier complex | 2.32 | 2.9 | 1485 | 1930 | 445 |
22a. | of which Nordre Stølsnosbreen | Cirque glacier | 0.80 | 1.3 | 1515 | 1930 | 415 |
22b. | of which Søre Stølsnosbreen | Cirque glacier | 1.52 | 1.7 | 1485 | 1930 | 445 |
23. | Falkebreen | Cirque glacier | 1.29 | 1.7 | 1395 | 1820 | 425 |
24. | Nordre Koldedalsbreen | Ice cap | 1.36 | 2.2 | 1390 | 1810 | 420 |
25. | Søre Koldedalsbreen | Valley glacier | 1.06 | 1.7 | 1370 | 1800 | 430 |
26. | Urdabreen | Glacier complex | 7.96 | 5.5 | 1340 | 2025 | 685 |
26a. | of which Skogadalsbreen | Valley glacier | 1.33 | 2.4 | 1425 | 1980 | 555 |
26b. | of which Urdanosbreen | Valley glacier | 3.29 | 3.5 | 1505 | 2025 | 480 |
26c. | of which Mjølkedalsbreen | Valley glacier | 3.34 | 3.5 | 1340 | 1960 | 620 |
27. | Sagibreen | Cirque glacier | 1.14 | 1.5 | 1540 | 1945 | 405 |
28. | Høgvaglbreen | Ice cap | 1.41 | 1.7 | 1570 | 2020 | 450 |
Total | 100.22 |
Fannaråkbreen (6.63 km2) is a glacier complex on the flank of Fannaråken (2068 m) next to the Sognefjellsvegen road.
Prestesteinsbreen (3.66 km2) is the largest part of Fannaråkbreen, a large cirque glacier on the north and east sides of Fannaråken and Steindalsnosi (2025 m).
Steindalsbreen (0.88 km2), a small ice cap in Fannaråkbreen, lies right above Steindalsvatnet.
Kongsdalsbreen (2.09 km2) is an ice cap in southern Fannaråkbreen, which sends down an ice tongue into Kongsdalen. There is an ice lake in the western part of the glacier.
Berdalsbreen (1.13 km2) is a cirque glacier in western Hurrungane, on the north side of Austabottind (2204 m), ending in a small lake with a 400 m wide ice cliff.
Ringsbreen (2.19 km2), also called Ridingsbreen, a steep and complex cirque glacier, lies innermost in the valley Ringsbotn.
Stølsmaradalsbreen (2.58 km2) is a steep cirque glacier towering high above the Stølsmaradalen valley.
Bandbreen (2.01 km2), a small glacier complex, lies in the center of Hurrungane.
Midtmaradalsbreen (0.98 km2), the southern part of Bandbreen, is a cirque glacier which sends down a narrow and steep tongue into the Midtmaradalen valley.
Skagastølsbreen (1.03 km2) is the northern part of Bandbreen, a cirque glacier to the north of Skagastølsbandet.
Styggedalsbreen (1.98 km2) is a valley glacier in northern Hurrungane. Its lower part has a rather gentle slope, but the upper parts consist of extremely steep hanging side glaciers. The tongue of Styggedalsbreen has begun to advance again somewhat in the last few years.
Gjertvassbreen (1.66 km2), also called Jervvassbreen, is a steep cirque glacier on the north flank of Styggedalstindan (2387 m). It now stops at the edge of a precipice above Gjertvassdalen.
Maradalsbreen (2.38 km2) is a valley glacier east of Skagastølstindan (2403 m). Its uppermost part is one big, steep ice chute.
Hurrbreen (2.25 km2) is a valley glacier with two side tributaries to the south of Loftet (2170 m) in the northern Smørstabbre massif.
Veslbreen (1.59 km2) is a small valley glacier north of Storbreatinden (2018 m).
Storbreen (5.19 km2) is a fairly large valley glacier in the Smørstabbre massif to the east of Store Smørstabbtind (2208 m). The glacier is almost circular in shape and has two tongues on either side of a nunatak where there is a cabin, rejoining below. At Storbreen there has been performed mass balance measurements since 1949, first by Norsk Polarinstitutt, then by NVE, the 2nd longest continuous series in the world, after Storglaciären in Sweden only.
During the time period 1949-2000 the netto balance has been -10.5 m water equivalent, distributed across the entire surface, but since the end of the 1980s the glacier has had a slight increase. During the Little Ice Age Storbreen reached all the way down to the bottom of the Leirdalen valley, a position 1.9 km farther out than now.
Bjørnebreen (1.20 km2) is a steep and heavily crevassed cirque glacier on the east side of Saksi (2189 m) and Storebjørn (2222 m).
Smørstabbreen (16.65 km2), the largest glacier complex in Jotunheimen, with parts of cirque, valley and ice cap type, lies in the southern Smørstabb massif.
Leirbreen (4.97 km2) is a broad valley glacier in northern Smørstabbreen, with mostly quite gentle slope. A small southern tongue ends in a little lake. During the Little Ice Age the front of Leirbreen stood about 800 m farther out than today.
Bøverbreen (7.82 km2) is an ice cap and the largest part of Smørstabbreen. Its accumulation zone lies between Storebjørn (2222 m) and Gravdalstinden (2119 m) and it sends out a wide tongue towards the northwest.
The tongue of Bøverbreen is fairly steep and crevassed, but not too much so, making it ideal for the glacier courses being held there.
Vestre Gravdalsbreen (0.38 km2) is a small cirque glacier in southern Smørstabbreen.
Austre Gravdalsbreen (0.85 km2), a cirque glacier in southern Smørstabbreen, hangs high above Gravdalen.
Sandelvbreen (2.63 km2), a valley glacier in eastern Smørstabbreen, flows down towards Gravdalen.
Dumhøbreen (1.18 km2) is an ice cap on the west side of Dumhøi (2181 m).
Heimre Illåbreen (1.88 km2) is a small valley glacier in the northwestern Galdhøpiggen massif.
Storgjuvbreen (4.68 km2), an elongated valley glacier, lies to the west of Galdhøpiggen (2469 m). It has a pretty wide accumulation zone, but the tongue is narrow. Storgjuvbreen has begun to readvance somwhat the last few years.
Veslgjuvbreen (0.97 km2) is a small ice cap on Galdhøi (2223 m), reaching down into lake Gjuvvatnet with a 400 m wide ice cliff. Summer skiing is arranged on this glacier.
Right to the north of Veslgjuvbreen there is a small cirque glacier, Kjelbreen, which also extends down into the lake.
Styggebreen (5.33 km2) is a rather large valley glacier in a shallow valley south of the plateau of Gjuvflyi. The better part of the glacier slopes gently and has relatively few crevasses, which is good since the normal route to Galdhøpiggen (2469 m) from Gjuvvasshytta passes it.
During the Little Ice Age Styggebreen was much larger, reaching all the way down to the bottom of the valley Visdalen in a mighty icefall, 2.2 km farther out and as much as 650 m lower down than today!
Svellnosbreen (5.11 km2) is a relatively large valley glacier in a hanging valley to the south of Galdhøpiggen (2469 m). In its upper part it has a prominent nunatak, Svellnosbrehesten (2181 m). The glacier tongue ends on the steep slope in "Eventyrisen" (=the Adventure Ice), the largest icefall in Jotunheimen, 600 m wide and 200 m high, where glacier courses from Spiterstulen often are held.
Svellnosbreen is one of the few glaciers in Jotunheimen which actually has advanced significantly in the later years. During the Little Ice Age the tongue extended down the entire slope and merged with Tverråbreen down the valley, 1.5 km farther out and 400 m lower down than now.
Ymelsbreen (12.18 km2) is the name for the glacier complex south of Tverråtindan (2309 m) in the southern Galdhøpiggen massif.
Nordre Illåbreen (3.41 km2), a valley glacier in Ymelsbreen north of Bukkehøi (2314 m), turns down towards the Leirdalen valley. During the Little Ice Age the front stood some 1.1 km from its current position.
Tverråbreen (5.63 km2), the largest glacier in the Galdhøpiggen massif and the middle part of Ymelsbreen, is a valley glacier with two ice tongues rejoining below a nunatak. NVE performed mass balance measurements here during the years of 1962-63. During the Little Ice Age the tongue of Tverråbreen extended 2.3 km farther out towards Visdalen. Then it was continuous with Svellnosbreen to the north as well.
Bukkeholsbreen (3.14 km2) is a valley glacier in southern Ymelsbreen, to the east of Bukkeholstindan (2213 m). During the Little Ice Age its front stood some 1.0 km farther out than now.
Søre Illåbreen (4.91 km2) is a valley glacier in the southern Galdhøpiggen massif, north of Tverrbotntindan (2161 m).
Stølsnosbreen (2.32 km2) is a small glacier complex to the north of the Morka-Koldedalen valley in southwestern Jotunheimen.
Nordre Stølsnosbreen (0.80 km2), a small cirque glacier in Stølsnosbreen, lies to the west of Stølsnostind (2074 m).
Søre Stølsnosbreen (1.52 km2) is a cirque glacier in Stølsnosbreen between Stølsnostind (2074 m) and Falketind (2067 m).
Falkebreen (1.29 km2), or Snøggeken as it is also called, is a cirque glacier on the east side of Falketind (2067 m).
Nordre Koldedalsbreen (1.36 km2) is an ice cap east of Koldedalstind (1927 m).
Søre Koldedalsbreen (1.06 km2), a small cirque glacier, lies on the north side of Breidkvamsnosi.
Urdabreen (7.96 km2) is a glacier complex next to Urdanostind (2157 m) in southern Jotunheimen.
Skogadalsbreen (1.33 km2), a small valley glacier in Urdabreen, extends down towards the Skogadalen valley.
Urdanosbreen (3.29 km2) is a valley glacier in Urdabreen east of Urdanostind (2157 m), with a pretty wide tongue. In the westernmost part it ends in a small lake.
Mjølkedalsbreen (3.34 km2) is a valley glacier in eastern Urdabreen. Its upper part is flat, but it has a small icefall down below. The tongue used to dam the upper Mjølkedalsvatnet lake in the side valley to the north, precipitating jökulhlaups. The last time this happened was in 1937, but since then the ice retreat has resulted in the lake no longer being ice-dammed.
Sagibreen (1.14 km2) is a cirque glacier to the east of Sagi (2040 m).
Høgvaglbreen (1.41 km2) is an ice cap to the north of Høgvagltindan (2066 m) in central Jotunheimen.
![]() |
![]() Top of document |
![]() The larger glaciers of Jotunheimen |
![]() The larger glaciers of Eastern Jotunheimen |
![]() Site map |
![]() Email the author |
![]() Copyleft information |
![]() Detta dokument på svenska |
Last updated: March 17, 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. |