Jostedalsbre Attractions

The Jostedalsbre, between the Sognefjord to the south and the Nordfjord to the north, is the largest inland ice-sheet in continental Europe (almost 100km/62mi long), of similar type to the great icefields of Greenland.

Together with the adjoining icefields the Jostedalsbre covers an area of over 1,000sq.km/380sq.mi. Only a few low rocky hummocks emerge from the mass of ice, which is estimated to be some 500m/1,650ft thick. Twenty-six major glaciers reach down into the surrounding valleys, including the Tundbergdalsbre, the largest glacier in Europe after the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland. Since the ice of these glaciers, like the ice almost everywhere in Norway, has been retreating for many years the ascent to the ice-sheet has become steadily steeper and more strenuous.