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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.

The larger glaciers of Lyngen

The Lenang massif from E The Lenang massif from E, July 3, 1986. (70 kB)

Lyngen consists of the massive mountain chain of the Lyngen peninsula, dominated by the mighty snow dome of Jiekkevarre (1833 m) in the south, the sharp peaks of Jægervasstindan in the north, and the surrounding somewhat lower mountains. The Jiekkevarre massif proper has an unusual build with a 10 km long chain of ice domes edged by 1000 m high vertical rock walls, with valley glaciers fed by innumerable avalanches and ice falls below. The mountain has been called "The Mont Blanc of the North", as a matter of fact not a totally unreasonable comparison.

Lyngen contains both glaciers of alpine type and small ice caps; the largest are in the Lenang massif to the north and around Jiekkevarre.

Contents

  • The larger glaciers of Lyngen with basic data


  • Table over the glaciers of Lyngen larger than 5 km2 (glacier complexes treated as one unit)


  • Table over the glaciers of Lyngen larger than 5 km2 (glacier complexes divided into ice streams)

    • Table over the larger glaciers of Lyngen with basic data

    #Name Type Area (km2) Length (km) Lowest point (m) Highest point (m) Height difference (m)
    1. Sennedalsbreen Cirque glacier 1.72 2.2 620 1240 620
    2. Blåisen Valley glacier 1.73 2.2 735 1100 365
    3. Smalakbreen Valley glacier 2.03 2.8 620 1120 500
    4. Gjømmerdalsbreen Valley glacier 3.82 2.9 690 1135 445
    5. Gammvikblåisen Valley glacier 4.98 3.9 530 1160 630
    6. Vestre Vakkasblåisen Valley glacier 2.87 3.2 505 1100 595
    7. Austre Vakkasblåisen Cirque glacier 1.12 1.8 520 900 380
    8. Reindalsblåisen Cirque glacier 1.18 2.2 490 1200 710
    9. Veidalsbreen Cirque glacier 1.87 1.9 495 1130 635
    10. Støvelbreen Ice cap 1.78 2.4 800 1345 545
    11. Lenangsblåisen Glacier complex 5.41 4.6 200 1430 1210
    11a. of which Lenangsbreen Cirque glacier 2.06 2.0 650 1375 725
    11b. of which Stortinddalsbreen Valley glacier 3.35 3.7 200 1430 1210
    12. Strupblåisen Glacier complex 13.24 6.7 460 1500 1040
    12a. of which Strupbreen Valley glacier 9.32 7.3 480 1500 1020
    12b. of which Koppangsbreen Valley glacier 3.92 3.7 460 1205 745
    13. Isskardbreen Valley glacier 2.10 2.3 520 1140 620
    14. Rotenvikbreen Valley glacier 2.31 3.2 645 1440 795
    15. Rødbergdalsbreen Cirque glacier 1.20 1.7 650 1265 615
    16. Fornesblåisen Glacier complex 7.06 4.7 630 1680 1050
    16a. of which Fornesbreen Valley glacier 5.97 4.4 630 1680 1050
    16b. of which Vestre Fugldalsbreen Ice cap 1.09 2.2 1045 1680 635
    17. Jiekkevarrejekna Glacier complex 26.96 9.7 380 1835 1455
    17a. of which Nordre Fugldalsbreen Valley glacier 3.24 3.1 815 1710 895
    17b. of which Rypedalsbreen Cirque glacier 1.22 2.3 685 1685 1000
    17c. of which Bredalsbreen Valley glacier 0.72 1.8 685 1670 985
    17d. of which Vestbreen Valley glacier 4.63 4.6 535 1750 1215
    17e. of which Midtbreen Valley glacier 3.34 4.3 415 1835 1420
    17f. of which Sydbreen Valley glacier 6.07 5.1 410 1835 1425
    17g. of which Goverdalsbreen Valley glacier 1.97 3.1 670 1740 1070
    17h. of whichBlåisen Valley glacier 1.29 3.2 625 1740 1115
    17i. of which Søre Fugldalsbreen Valley glacier 2.64 3.5 380 1730 1350
    17j. of which Kveitabreen Cirque glacier 1.84 3.0 840 1835 995
    18. Lakselvbreen Cirque glacier 1.18 2.0 560 1400 840
    19. Steindalsbreen Valley glacier 4.78 5.0 450 1420 970
    20. Durmålsbreen Valley glacier 1.47 2.1 535 900 365
    21. Sårbmejiekki Cirque glacier 1.57 1.7 535 910 375
    22. Gåttejiekki Cirque glacier 1.42 1.2 680 1095 415
    23. Nomedalsbreen Ice cap 1.15 1.3 940 1160 220
    24. Nåmmerjiekki Ice cap 2.47 1.9 950 1195 245
    25. Luovtatjiekki Ice cap 1.13 0.9 990 1180 190
    26. Måskojiekki Glacier complex 4.81 3.2 795 1230 435
    26a. of which Råggejekna Ice cap 1.45 2.5 795 1230 435
    26b. of which Måskojekna Ice cap 1.76 1.2 925 1230 305
    26c. of which Lillelvbreen Ice cap 1.60 2.2 1010 1225 215
    Total 101.36

    1. Sennedalsbreen

    Sennedalsbreen (1.72 km2) is a fairly large cirque glacier west of Sennedalen.

    2. Blåisen

    Blåisen (1.73 km2), a mid-sized valley glacier, lies west of Sørfjorden in western Lyngen.

    3. Smalakbreen

    Smalakbreen (2.03 km2) is a valley glacier west of Sennedalen in the western Lyngen area.

    4. Gjømmerdalsbreen

    Gjømmerdalsbreen (3.82 km2) is a wide and rather flat valley glacier north of the passage between Sørfjorden and Balsfjorden in western Lyngen.

    5. Gammvikblåisen

    Gammvikblåisen (4.98 km2), a fairly large valley glacier, lies northernmost in the Lyngen peninsula, in a fairly shallow depression to the west of Peppartinden.

    6. Vestre Vakkasblåisen

    Vestre Vakkasblåisen (2.87 km2), or Vakkasjiekki in Lappish, is a mid-sized rather lobate valley glacier in northern Lyngen peninsula.

    7. Austre Vakkasblåisen

    Austre Vakkasblåisen (1.12 km2) is a cirque glacier at the north side of Vakkastindan.

    8. Reindalsblåisen

    Reindalsblåisen (1.18 km2), a fairly large cirque glacier, sends down a narrow tongue from Reindalstindan.

    9. Veidalsbreen

    Veidalsbreen (1.87 km2) is a pretty large cirque glacier on the NW side of Støvelfjellet.

    10. Støvelbreen

    Støvelbreen (1.78 km2) is an ice cap in a shallow depression on the east flank of Støvelfjellet. Around year 1900 it sent two steep and heavily crevassed tongues down towards the fiord.

    11. Lenangsblåisen

    Lenangsblåisen (5.41 km2), a glacier complex in the savage Lenang massif, consists of Lenangsbreen and Stortinddalsbreen.

    11a. Lenangsbreen

    Lenangsbreen (2.06 km2), the northern part of Lenangsblåisen, is a complex, steep and heavily crevassed cirque glacier at the north side of the Lenang massif, with a 1.2 km wide and 200 m high icefall.

    11b. Stortinddalsbreen

    Stortinddalsbreen (3.35 km2), the southern part of Lenangsblåisen, is a valley glacier at the south side of the Lenang massif. It has two icefalls, the upper one 900 m wide and 300 m high, and the lower one 800 m wide and 400 m high. The lower icefall is so steep that it is disconnected, with a regenerated glacier below, which has grown some the last few years.

    12. Strupblåisen

    Strupblåisen (13.24 km2) at the east side of the Lenang massif is the largest continuos glacier area in northern Lyngen. It is divided into Strupbreen and Koppangsbreen.

    12a. Strupbreen

    Strupbreen from E Strupbreen from E, July 3, 1986. (53 kB)

    Strupbreen (9.32 km2) is a long and mighty, rather gently sloping valley glacier to the east of Lenangstindan; the largest part of Strupblåisen. Its snout dams a little lake in Strupskardet, which has caused a few jökulhlaups. The earlier fairly large lake is now split up in three, of which only the lowest one is ice-dammed today.

    During the Little Ice Age the glacier reached all the way to the sheer drop towards the fiord forming an icefall, where ice avalanches formed a regenerated glacier, which reached almost into the sea. Ice used for refrigeration of fish was mined here at the end of the 19th century. You get to Strupbreen easiest by getting a boat to Strupen from the end of the road at Koppangen, and then climbing up the mountain side in slightly more than an hour.

    12b. Koppangsbreen

    Koppangsbreen from E Koppangsbreen from E, July 3, 1986. (48 kB)

    Koppangsbreen (3.92 km2) is the southern part of Strupblåisen, a valley glacier east of Tafeltinden. The glacier´s tongue has a prominent medial moraine. Slightly more than an hour´s hike up the valley from Koppangen gets you to the snout.

    13. Isskardbreen

    Isskardbreen (2.10 km2) is a valley glacier south of Isskardtinden to the north of Kjosen in the central Lyngen area.

    14. Rotenvikbreen

    Rotenvikbreen (2.31 km2), which in Lappish is called Kuotjavojiekki, is a fairly steep valley glacier just to the north of Lyngseidet.

    15. Rødbergdalsbreen

    Rødbergdalsbreen (1.20 km2) is a complex cirque glacier at the east side of Forholtfjellet.

    16. Fornesblåisen

    Fornesblåisen (7.06 km2) is a glacier complex in the northern Jiekkevarre massif, and it consists of Fornesbreen and Vestre Fugldalsbreen.

    16a. Fornesbreen

    Fornesbreen (5.97 km2), the largest part of Fornesblåisen, is a quite large valley glacier north of Fugldalsfjellet. Today its front stands at the top of the cliff overlooking Fornesbotnen.

    16b. Vestre Fugldalsbreen

    Vestre Fugldalsbreen (1.09 km2), the southern part of Fornesblåisen, is an ice cap which lies in a shallow depression on the SW slope of Fugldalsfjellet.

    17. Jiekkevarrejekna

    Jiekkevarrejekna (26.96 km2) is a complex continuos system of high-lying ice caps and regenerated valley glaciers below, fed by avalanches and ice falling from mighty icefalls. It is divided in ten parts, of which Sydbreen is the largest.

    17a. Nordre Fugldalsbreen

    Nordre Fugldalsbreen (3.24 km2) is a valley glacier in Jiekkevarrejekna south of Fugldalsfjellet. Its lower part has a small icefall.

    17b. Rypedalsbreen

    Rypedalsbreen (1.22 km2), a cirque glacier in Jiekkevarrejekna north of Kveita, extends down into lake Rypedalsvatnet.

    17c. Bredalsbreen

    Bredalsbreen (0.72 km2) is a small valley glacier in Jiekkevarrejekna, which also extends down into Rypedalsvatnet.

    17d. Vestbreen

    Vestbreen (4.63 km2), or Nuortapäljiekki in Lappish, is a pretty large valley glacier in Jiekkevarrejekna east of Kveita. Its middle part is flat, while there are icefalls in both the upper and the lower parts, the lower one 700 m wide and 300 m high. During the Little Ice Age Vestbreen reached some 1.4 km farther out in the valley than now, to about 250 m asl. From Furuflaten it is some 2 hours walk on good path in Lyngsdalen up to the glacier snout.

    17e. Midtbreen

    Midtbreen (3.34 km2) in Jiekkevarrejekna consists of two parts: an ice cap high up, and a lower regenerated valley glacier totally below 1000 m asl, fed by giant ice avalanches. The glacier was previously continuos with Sydbreen in the snout, but they have now separated from each other.

    17f. Sydbreen

    Sydbreen (6.07 km2) is the largest discrete ice stream in Jiekkevarrejekna. This one consists of two parts as well, with a long valley glacier fed by massive ice avalanches from an upper ice cap, and its Lappish name is Palkesvatjiekki. Midtbreen used to be a part of this one, when they connected in the snout. The outermost terminal moraines, from the Little Ice Age, lies some 1.7 km farther down the valley, at roughly 260 m asl. From the road at Furuflaten it takes some 3 hours to hike up through Lyngsdalen to Sydbreen´s snout.

    17g. Goverdalsbreen

    Goverdalsbreen (1.97 km2) is an elongate, steep and heavily crevassed valley glacier with a 600 m wide and 600 m high, partly discontinuos icefall in Jiekkevarrejekna. It starts high up on the snow dome of Jiekkevarre.

    17h. Blåisen

    Blåisen (1.29 km2) is a small, western outlet from Jiekkevarrejekna with two icefalls. The upper one is 700 m wide and 400 m high, and the lower one is 300 m high with a regenerated glacier below. The normal route up to the summit of Jiekkevarre follows this glacier.

    17i. Søre Fugldalsbreen

    Søre Fugldalsbreen (2.64 km2) is a two-pieced glacier in Jiekkevarrejekna on the west side of Jiekkevarre. The lower regenerated valley glacier, fed by ice avalanches from the upper plateau part, lies almost entirely below 800 m asl.

    17j. Kveitabreen

    Kveitabreen (1.84 km2) is a steep cirque glacier in Jiekkevarrejekna N of Jiekkevarre and W of Kveita.

    18. Lakselvbreen

    Lakselvbreen (1.18 km2) is a steep and heavily crevassed cirque glacier at the north side of the very jagged Lakselvtindane.

    19. Steindalsbreen

    Steindalsbreen (4.78 km2), a valley glacier of irregular form, lies between Nallangaisi and Imagaisi in southern Lyngen. From its flat upper part the ice is squeezed out through a narrow opening in a small icefall into a wide valley where the snout widens once more.

    20. Durmålsbreen

    Durmålsbreen (1.47 km2) is a low-lying valley glacier east of Durmålstinden in the southern Lyngen area.

    21. Sårbmejiekki

    Sårbmejiekki (1.57 km2), an irregular cirque glacier, lies east of Sårbmekaise to the east of Lyngenfjorden.

    22. Gåttejiekki

    Gåttejiekki (1.42 km2) is a cirque glacier at the east side of Gåttekaise in the eastern Lyngen area.

    23. Nomedalsbreen

    Nomedalsbreen (1.15 km2) is an ice cap north of Kåfjorden. Previously it was continuos with Nåmmerjiekki.

    24. Nåmmerjiekki

    Nåmmerjiekki (2.47 km2) is an ice cap NE of Kåfjorden in eastern Lyngen. Nomedalsbreen previously was a part of it.

    25. Luovtatjiekki

    Luovtatjiekki (1.13 km2) is a small ice cap on Vaddaskaise in eastern Lyngen.

    26. Måskojiekki

    Måskojiekki (4.81 km2), a small ice cap, consists of three parts and lies east of Reisadalen in easternmost Lyngen.

    26a. Råggejekna

    Råggejekna (1.45 km2) is an outlet of Måskojiekki with a small tongue extending fairly far down into Røyeldalen.

    26b. Måskojekna

    Måskojekna (1.76 km2) is the rather wide part of Måskojiekki lying above Moskodalen.

    26c. Lillelvbreen

    Lillelvbreen (1.60 km2), a part of Måskojiekki, drains westwards into Lillelvdalen.

    The glaciers of Lyngen larger than 5 km2

    (Glacier complexes treated as one unit)

    Name Area (km2) Type District
    1. Jiekkevarrejekna 26.96 Glacier complex Lyngen
    2. Strupblåisen 13.24 Glacier complex Lyngen
    3. Fornesblåisen 7.06 Glacier complex Lyngen
    4. Lenangsblåisen 5.41 Glacier complex Lyngen

    The glaciers of Lyngen larger than 5 km2

    (Glacier complexes divided into ice streams)

    Name Area (km2) Type Glacier complex
    1. Strupbreen 9.32 Valley glacier Strupblåisen
    2. Sydbreen 6.07 Valley glacier Jiekkevarrejekna
    3. Fornesbreen 5.97 Valley glacier Fornesblåisen

    Start page Top
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    document    		 Previous
    The larger glaciers
    of Finnmark    		 Up
    The larger glaciers
    of Norway    		 Next
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    the Narvik mountains    		 Site map
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    Copyleft
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    Detta dokument
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    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.