Jostedal Glacier, Continental glacier in Vestland, Norway
Jostedalsbreen is a continental glacier in western Norway that sprawls across multiple valleys and municipalities, divided into numerous arms and branches. The ice masses create a dramatic white landscape that dominates the surrounding mountains and slopes.
This glacier reached its greatest extent in the 1700s when cold climatic conditions pushed its ice far beyond previous limits. The expansion destroyed farmland and pastures in the valleys below, reshaping the local terrain.
The establishment of the Norwegian Glacier Museum and Jostedalsbreen National Park Center in Stryn provides educational resources about glacier formation and environmental conservation.
Access is mainly through glacier arms like Nigardsbreen, where guided tours are offered by experienced professionals. Visitors should be prepared for mountain terrain and changing weather conditions.
One of the glacier arms holds the deepest ice layer in Norway, measured at more than 600 meters thick. This exceptional ice structure makes the site a key research location for glacial scientists.
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