Søndre Folgefonna, Plateau glacier in Hardanger region, Norway
Søndre Folgefonna is a plateau glacier stretching across roughly 160 square kilometers and ranks as Norway's third largest mainland glacier. The ice mass sits at elevations between 3,900 and 5,250 feet (1,200-1,600 meters), featuring exposed rock faces, snow fields, and deep crevasses throughout its expanse.
This glacier formed during the ice age and has experienced significant retreat and advance cycles over the past centuries. The creation of Folgefonna National Park in 2005 marked formal protection for this ice mass and the surrounding terrain.
Local communities depend on the glacier's meltwater for hydroelectric power and drinking water sources. The region blends mountain traditions with outdoor recreation that shapes how residents connect with their landscape.
Visitors must go with certified guides since the terrain is hazardous and conditions change rapidly in mountain weather. Guided tours operate from June through October and require reasonable fitness plus proper mountaineering gear.
The glacier's meltwater feeds a commercial bottled water brand sold across Scandinavia under the Isklar label. This direct use of glacial resources shows how water from remote ice masses reaches consumers far away.
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