Lilliehöökbreen, Tidewater glacier in Spitsbergen, Norway.
Lilliehöökbreen is a tidewater glacier on the northwest coast of Spitzbergen with a broad ice front that descends directly into a fjord. The ice flows in several major streams from the interior and converges into a single massive expanse that calves large icebergs into the water below.
The glacier was scientifically documented in the early 1900s when detailed measurements of its extent were recorded during polar expeditions. These early observations now serve as the baseline for comparing changes over more than a century.
The name honors a Swedish naval officer involved in early Arctic exploration missions during the 1800s. Visitors can still sense the historical connections to 19th-century polar discovery that shaped how people understand these remote regions.
The glacier is primarily accessible by water since land routes are limited and the terrain is rough. Visitors should prepare for changeable weather and understand that access varies depending on season and ice conditions.
The glacier has lost substantial ice mass over recent decades, making Arctic change visually evident to visitors. Comparing historical photographs with current views shows clearly how the ice edge has shifted.
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