Jostedal Glacier

城市概覽

The main glacier rests on a mountain plateau west of the Jostedalen valley, hence the name. The glacier ice covers a total area of about 500 km2, while the national park is more than 1300 km2. Jostedalsbreen is a temperate glacier such that it is at melting point throughout the year, from its surface to its base. The glacier is not frozen to the bedrock but flows along the slopes and through the valleys like a river, albeit at very low speed from 1 cm/day up to 100 cm/day (3 feet per day). Flow is highest at surface and middle causing the ice to crack and break up. Chunks of ice regularly falls from the edge or front of the glacier, a process known as ice calving. The resulting huge waves in lakes or the chunks of ice themselves are deadly. Glaciers are created by snow accumulated and gradually transformed into ice ("blue ice"). Snow melts off at lower parts of the glacier during summer revealing the blue ice (actual glacier), while the higher parts of the glacier has permanent snow cover. Glaciers like Jostedalsbreen are created and maintained by heavy snowfall at high altitudes, rather than by extreme temperatures as in the Antarctic. Jostedalsbreen is basically a plateau glacier or ice cap, while the arms or branches are valley glaciers. Jostedalsbreen has some 30 named arms into the adjacent valleys, among the well-known are:

Nigardsbreen in Jostedalen, Luster district Austerdalsbreen at Veitastrond, Luster Bøyabreen in Fjærland Briksdalsbreen at Olden Kjenndalsbreen at Loen East of Jostedalen towards road 15 and 55 is the Breheimen ("Glacier park") protected area, and this area has number of smaller glaciers. West and South there are several smaller glacier not fully connected to Jostedalsbreen proper, but often seen as part of Jostedalsbreen system. Together with nextdoor Jotunheimen these form the highest and most alpine mountains in Norway. Smaller, independent glaciers digging into mountain slopes creating amphitheater shapes are cirque glaciers, "botnbre"

如何抵達

Jostedalsbreen largely rests on a mountain plateau with arms stretching in all directions to the valleys beneath. Only the arms of the glaciers are visible to visitors and the main glacier is visible only from airplane. The glacier can be approached from any of the valleys around the glacier, and there are many access points.

The northeastern corner of the glacier is in Oppland in Skjåk district near road 15. Drive local roads through tributary valleys. Access to this corner usually involves long hikes. Stryn district has several access points, notably the well known Briksdalsbreen at Olden Nigardsbreen arm in Luster district is also a popular place for glacier hiking. Access to several branches from Jostedalen valley. Access through Jostedalen valley via Gaupne village. Veitastrond village offers access to several branches, local road from Hafslo junction on road 55 Fjærland on road 5 has at least two arms of the glacier Several branches are with some hiking available from Stardalen valley via Klakegg junction on road E39 Most of Jostedalsbreen is protected as national park which means that there are no roads within the park limits. Motor vehicles are not allowed outside roads. Motor transport is only to the edge of park or to one of the arms of the glacier. Glaciers are treacherous and extremely dangerous, and visitors must keep a safe distance to the glacier arms. Visitors can hike on the glacier only with a professional guide. Guide services are available at Nigardsbreen (Jostedalen valley) and Olden/Loen/Stryn area.

By car Public transport is limited with a few departures daily, so a car is the only flexible way to get to the edge of the park. Road 5 Sogndal-Skei runs in a tunnel in the bedrock under the glacier, and the Bøyabreen arm is visible close to the road at the tunnel entrance in Fjærland. The Stryn summer ski centre operates at the northern end of the glacier along road 258 Stryn-Grotli.

From Oslo

Road E16 to Lærdal then Road 5 to Sogndal and Fj

當地交通

There are no roads in the park, so the only option is by foot. Hiking in the area surrounding of the glacier is very much possible, given that you choose routes according to skill and experience. In no case should visitors get up on the glacier without a local professional or otherwise skilled enough guide; glaciers are extremely dangerous. The glacier itself and the complex topography make road transport difficult. Except for the tunnel (between Fjærland and Skei) under the southern tip of the main glacier, all roads into the valleys are dead ends. The full circle around by car would be well over 400 km or almost a full days drive. Jostedalen valley to Olden on the opposite side is about 200 km by car. Because of limited public transport, a car is the most flexible way to visit different branches.

必看景點

The most popular places, such as Briksdalsbreen at Olden, can be crowded in summer. Some attractions related to the glacier and the park are situated outside the boundaries of the park:

1 Norsk bremuseum (Glacier museum of Norway), Fjærland, ☏ +47 57693288, fax: +47 57693287, [email protected]. Jun-Aug: 09:00-21:00, Apr-May and Sep-Oct: 10:00-16:00. Museum regarding glaciers. Also visitor centre for the park. Adult:110 kr, students: 50 kr, children: 50 kr. Jostedalsbreen Nasjonalparksenter, Oppstryn, ☏ +47 57877200, [email protected]. Visitor centre, with exhibition about flora, fauna and geology in the park. 2 Breheimsenteret, Jostedal, ☏ +47 57683250, fax: +47 57683240, [email protected]. 1 May-31 Sep: 10:00-17:00, 21 Jun-20 Aug: 10:00-19:00. Visitor centre. If you only would like to see the glacier, without walking on it, these are the best options:

3 Nigardsbreen, Gaupne/Jostedalen (Route 55 to Gaupne then route 604). Arm of the great glacier. In Jostedal, 63 km from Sogndal. In the end of the road there is a parking space. From there departures a small boat over the lake in front of the glacier. The journeys takes 30 minutes, the boat runs non-stop during the season (usually May to October). Observe from safe distance, guide needed for hike on the ice. There is no need to go on a hike to see the glacier. The glacier is usually visible from road or the parking. Sturdy shoes are needed to walk around on shore beneath the glacier. 4 Bøyabreen (Bøyabreen glacier), Fjærland (Close to Route 5 towards Skei, right before the tunnel.). One of the few places where a glacier arm is readily visible from a main road. It is possible to see the glacier from the parking space. Or you could walk for about half an hour in relatively flat terrain. Keep a safe distance in case of falling ice. 5 Supphellebreen (in Fjærland, 10 km on a local road from the village). The glacier is usually split into an upper and a lower (regenerated) part, with a non-glaciated area bet

體驗活動

Trekking and glacier walking should only be done with a professional, local guide. Hiking boots or sturdy hiking shoes are needed, depending on the type of hike. The guiding company will pro