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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 glaciers of the Arjeplog mountains

Årjep Saulo from NW Årjep Saulo from NW, August 5, 1996. (65 kB)

The Arjeplog mountains is a vast mountain area between Pite älv and the border to Västerbottens län, with a few smaller high mountain massifs, of which 5 have glaciers. The highest peak within the area is Nuortap Saulo (1768 m), and there are 1 additional 1700-meter peak and 4 1600-meter peaks.

The Arjeplog mountains contain only a few, and small glaciers. In total I know of 10 with a total area of 1.65 km2, 0.6 % of the glacier area in Sweden. Of the glaciers 3 are of cirque type and seven are small ice caps. However, it is not impossible that there could be more, since I discovered the 2nd largest as late as 1996!

Contents

  • Table over the glaciers of the Arjeplog mountains with basic data


  • The glaciers of the Arjeplog mountains, arranged after massif

    • The Nuortap Saulo massif
    The Jervas massif
    The Straitas massif
    The Fierras massif
    The Tsanga massif

    (For the interested, information concerning classification, naming, and measurements.)

    Table over the glaciers of the Arjeplog mountains with basic data

    # Name Type Area (km2) Length (km) Lowest point (m) Highest point (m) Height difference (m)
    1. Saulojekna Ice cap 0.06+ 0.2 1490 1710 220
    Subtotal 0.06+
    2. Jervasjekna Ice cap 0.20 0.4 1150 1310 160
    3. Rivajekna Ice cap 0.39 1.2 1090 1405 315
    Subtotal 0.59
    4. Alep Vaulajekna Ice cap 0.11 0.3 1050 1225 175
    5. Lulep Vaulajekna Cirque glacier 0.11 0.3 1200 1300 100
    6. Straitasjekna Cirque glacier 0.12 0.4 1235 1410 175
    Subtotal 0.34
    7. Nuortap Fierrasjekna Ice cap 0.13 0.3 1230 1355 125
    8. Årjep Fierrasjekna Ice cap 0.42 0.7 1355 1540 185
    Subtotal 0.55
    9. Alep Tsangajekna Ice cap 0.05 0.2 1200 1375 175
    10. Lulep Tsangajekna Cirque glacier 0.06 0.3 1195 1385 190
    Subtotal 0.11
    Total 1.65+

    Plus sign after area value means that the glacier is larger, and that part of it lies in Norway. The number indicates the area on Swedish territory.

    The Nuortap Saulo massif

    Nuortap Saulo is a majestic and compact high mountain massif right on the border with Norway, between Pieskehaure and Mavasjaure. It is a double peak, with the southern one the highest (1768 m). (The counterpart to the massif, the 1715 m high Årjep Saulo between Mavasjaure and Ikesjaure, has no glaciers.)

    1. Saulojekna

    Saulojekna from NE Saulojekna from NE, August 2, 1996. (41 kB)

    Saulojekna (0.06+ km2) is a small ice cap on the east side of Nuortap Saulo, just on the border with Norway. It is not displayed on the mountain map, even though it is visible on the Norwegian map.

    The Jervas massif

    The Jervas massif is a varied high mountain massif on the border with Norway, between Balvatnet-Ikesjaure and Jurunvagge-Silvervägen-Skieidivaggi. The highest peak on the Swedish side is Muvratjåkkå (1505 m), while Björntoppen inside Norway reaches 1709 m. The massif has a number of small glaciers of cirque and ice cap type, of which two lies in Sweden.

    2. Jervasjekna

    Jervasjekna from NE Jervasjekna from NE, August 6, 1996. (52 kB)

    Jervasjekna (0.20 km2) is a small ice cap on the eastern side of Stuor-Jervas. It ends in a little lake called Issjön.

    3. Rivajekna

    Rivajekna from NE Rivajekna from NE, August 8, 1996. (52 kB)

    Rivajekna (0.39 km2) is an ice cap ot the eastern slope of Riva. It is not shown on the mountain map, something that is surprising considering its size. I discovered it in August 1996 when I was in the neighborhood (later I have learned that members of the Argaladei association have noted it before). A possible explanation could be that it may have been gone entirely before, but now has been reformed by the large snow surpluses of the latest years. (see Westmans glaciär).

    The crevasses of Rivajekna The crevasses of Rivajekna, August 8, 1996. (48 kB)

    Rivagjekna has some crevasses, because of its steepness.

    Map over Rivajekna Map over Rivajekna. (153 kB)

    The map drawn by the author (larger snow fields shown here as well).


    The Straitas massif

    The Straitas massif is a lower high mountain massif between Guijaure, Smuolevagge and Saltdalen in Norway. The highest peak is Straitastjåkkå (1568 m), and there are three very small glaciers in the massif.

    4. Alep Vaulajekna

    Alep Vaulajekna (0.11 km2) is a very small ice cap on the north side of Vaulatjårro. This is possibly just some dead ice.

    5. Lulep Vaulajekna

    Lulep Vaulajekna (0.11 km2) is a tiny cirque glacier (or dead ice) on the east side of Vaulatjårro.

    6. Straitasjekna

    Straitasjekna (0.12 km2) is a very small cirque glacier under the east precipice of Straitastjåkkå. Like the other glaciers in the massif its classification is uncertain - it can just as well be some dead ice.

    The Fierras massif

    The Fierras massif is a vast lower high mountain massif between Smuolevagge and Laisdalen. The highest peak is N. Fierras (1605 m), and there are two smaller glaciers in the massif.

    7. Nuortap Fierrasjekna

    Nuortap Fierrasjekna (0.13 km2) is a very small ice cap on the north side of V. Fierras. This glacier might just be some dead ice.

    8. Årjep Fierrasjekna

    Årjep Fierrasjekna (0.42 km2) is an ice cap on V. Fierras.

    The Tsanga massif

    The Tsanga massif is a small high mountain massif between Laisdalen, Vindelälven and the Tjålmjaure basin. The highest peak is Tsangatjåkkå (1641 m), and there are two tiny glaciers in the massif.

    9. Alep Tsangajekna

    Alep Tsangajekna (0.05 km2) is a very small ice cap on the north side of Tsangatjåkkå. Possibly this is just some dead ice.

    10. Lulep Tsangajekna

    Lulep Tsangajekna (0.06 km2) is a tiny cirque glacier (or dead ice) in a prominent cirque east of Tsangatjåkkå.

    Start page Top
    Top of
    document    		 Previous
    The glaciers of
    Sarek    		 Up
    The glaciers
    of Sweden    		 Next
    The glaciers of the
    Vindel mountains    		 Site map
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    map    		 Email
    Email the
    author    		 Copyleft
    Copyleft
    information    		 På svenska
    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.