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Last updated: March 17, 2001 Unless otherwise specified; text, tables, photographs, maps and other graphics © 1999-2001 Gunnar Ljungstrand
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The glaciers of the Sielma massif

Southern Sielma massif from E Southern Sielma massif from E, August 12, 1990. (94 kB)

The Sielma massif is a mighty high mountain massif between Alesvagge-Tjäktjavagge, Vistasvagge and Stuor-Räitavagge in northern Kebnekaise. Its highest peak is Sielmatjåkka (1997 m), and its east flank towards Vistasvagge displays one of the largest relative heights in the Swedish mountains: 1400 m. The massif contains 14-16 glaciers (depending on how you count).

Table over the glaciers of the Sielma massif with basic data

# Name Type Area (km2) Length (km) Lowest point (m) Highest point (m) Height difference (m)
1. Alep Repitjåkkajekna Cirque glacier 0.38 1.0 1360 1625 265
2. Årjep Repitjåkkajekna Cirque glacier 0.14 0.6 1310 1610 300
3. Repitjåkkajekna Glacier complex 0.84 1.9 1310 1620 310
3a. of which Nuortap Repitjåkkajekna Cirque glacier 0.32 1.0 1490 1620 130
3b. of which Lulep Repitjåkkajekna Cirque glacier 0.52 1.3 1310 1620 310
4. Repijekna Valley glacier 1.52 2.4 1325 1705 380
5. Alep Påssusjekna Valley glacier 1.71 2.6 1240 1745 505
6. Påssusjekna Glacier complex 2.69 3.3 1135 1695 560
6a. of which Kaska Påssusjekna Valley glacier 1.78 2.6 1255 1670 415
6b. of which Lulep Påssusjekna Valley glacier 0.91 2.2 1135 1695 560
7. Alep Sielmajekna Cirque glacier 0.20 0.7 1350 1560 110
8. Lulep Sielmajekna Ice cap 0.17 0.6 1440 1800 360
9. Takglaciären Valley glacier 1.62 2.8 1055 1950 895
10. Alep Påssustjåkkajekna Cirque glacier 0.28 1.0 1290 1585 295
11. Lulep Påssustjåkkajekna Cirque glacier 0.29 0.9 1140 1550 410
12. Nuortap Tjäktjajekna Cirque glacier 1.09 2.0 1235 1620 385
13. Kaska Tjäktjajekna Cirque glacier 0.70 1.5 1240 1625 385
14. Årjep Tjäktjajekna Cirque glacier 0.30 0.8 1260 1510 250
Total 11.93

1. Alep Repitjåkkajekna

Alep Repitjåkkajekna (0.38 km2) is a cirque glacier on the north side of Repitjåkka.

2. Årjep Repitjåkkajekna

Årjep Repitjåkkajekna (0.14 km2) is a small cirque glacier south of Repitjåkka.

3. Repitjåkkajekna

Repitjåkkajekna (0.84 km2) is a small glacier complex north of Repitjåkka. It is divided into Nuortap Repitjåkkajekna and Lulep Repitjåkkajekna by a glacier pass.

3a. Nuortap Repitjåkkajekna

Nuortap Repitjåkkajekna (0.32 km2) is the smaller, western part of the complex. A glacier pass in the eastern part connects it to Lulep Repitjåkkajekna (1610 m).

3b. Lulep Repitjåkkajekna

Lulep Repitjåkkajekna (0.52 km2) is the eastern part of the complex. A glacier pass at some 1610 m leads over to Nuortap Repitjåkkajekna.

4. Repijekna

Repijekna from N Repijekna from N, August 1, 1995. (48 kB)

Repijekna (1.52 km2) is a valley glacier NW of Repipakte. It seems to be even and practically crevasse-free, but has large, ice-cored terminal moraines.

5. Alep Påssusjekna

Alep Påssusjekna from the pass in S Alep Påssusjekna from the pass in S, July 18, 1981. (54 kB)

Alep Påssusjekna (1.71 km2) is a valley glacier NE of Repipakte. Earlier in the 20th century it was continuos with Påssusjekna. A trail between Alesjaure and Nallo, straight through the massif, leads across it through a pass in its southern part (1485 m).

The upper parts of Alep Påssusjekna The upper parts of Alep Påssusjekna, July 18, 1981. (45 kB)

The glacier is virtually free of crevasses, except in certain areas in the upper parts.

6. Påssusjekna

Påssusjekna and Alep Påssusjekna from NW Påssusjekna and Alep Påssusjekna from NW, July 18, 1981. (68 kB)

Påssusjekna (2.69 km2) is a glacier complex north of Sielmatjåkka. It consists of two valley glaciers: Kaska Påssusjekna and Lulep Påssusjekna, connected by a glacier pass.

6a. Kaska Påssusjekna

Kaska Påssusjekna from NW Kaska Påssusjekna from NW, July 18, 1981. (74 kB)

Kaska Påssusjekna (1.78 km2) is a medium-sized valley glacier north of Sielmatjåkka. The ice is continuos with Lulep Påssusjekna via a glacier pass at some 1475 m. On the southernmost part of the glacier meltwater ponds have been observed.

6b. Lulep Påssusjekna

Lulep Påssusjekna from NE Lulep Påssusjekna from NE, August 2, 1995. (34 kB)

Lulep Påssusjekna (0.91 km2) is a small elongated valley glacier north of the high precipice of Sielmatjåkka. A glacier pass leads across to Kaska Påssusjekna (1475 m). In the 1940s a moulin some 5 m in diameter and 100 m deep was observed on this glacier.

7. Alep Sielmajekna

Alep Sielmajekna (0.20 km2) is a small cirque glacier W of Sielmatjåkka.

8. Lulep Sielmajekna

Lulep Sielmajekna from E Lulep Sielmajekna from E, August 2, 1995. (35 kB)

Lulep Sielmajekna (0.17 km2) is a steep ice cap, hanging out over the precipice towards Vistasvagge. It was continuos with Takglaciären earlier.

9. Takglaciären

Takglaciären from E Takglaciären from E, August 2, 1995. (61 kB)

Takglaciären (1.62 km2), also called Seittakjekna, is a steep valley glacier on the east side of Sielmatjåkka. It reaches almost to the summit, and at the same time far down into Vistasvagge.

Takglaciären from NE Takglaciären from NE, August 2, 1995. (69 kB)

Takglaciären is a heavily crevassed glacier, even in the upper parts. The small Lulep Sielmajekna was earlier a part of Takglaciären.

The icefall of Takglaciären The icefall of Takglaciären, August 2, 1995. (77 kB)

Where the tongue slides over a cliff there is even a small icefall.

10. Alep Påssustjåkkajekna

Alep Påssustjåkkajekna from N Alep Påssustjåkkajekna from N, August 1, 1995. (42 kB)

Alep Påssustjåkkajekna (0.28 km2) is an elongated cirque glacier W of Påssustjåkka.

11. Lulep Påssustjåkkajekna

Lulep Påssustjåkkajekna from N Lulep Påssustjåkkajekna from N, August 2, 1995. (54 kB)

Lulep Påssustjåkkajekna (0.29 km2) is a cirque glacier east of Påssustjåkka. Like so many other small glaciers it seems to have grown somewhat during the latest years.

12. Nuortap Tjäktjajekna

Kaska and Nuortap Tjäktjajekna from E Kaska and Nuortap Tjäktjajekna from E, August 12, 1990. (205 kB)

Nuortap Tjäktjajekna (1.09 km2) is a large complex cirque glacier east of Tjäktjatjåkka.

13. Kaska Tjäktjajekna

Kaska Tjäktjajekna (0.70 km2) is an intricately formed cirque glacier east of Tjäktjapakte. Just to its north lies the 2nd highest lake in Sweden (1505 m).

14. Årjep Tjäktjajekna

Årjep Tjäktjajekna (0.30 km2) is a cirque glacier south of Tjäktjaryggen.

Start page Top
Top of
document		 Previous
The glaciers of the
Mårma massif		 Up
The glaciers of
Kebnekaise		 Next
The glaciers of the
Räita massif		 Site map
Site
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.