Why Europe's largest glacier relies on heavy snowfall rather than freezing temperatures

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Spanning 487 square kilometres in Western Norway, the Jostedal Glacier is a massive ice formation that defies simple expectations. While many assume glaciers are purely products of extreme cold, this giant is actually sustained by intense regional snowfall, leading to a complex cycle of growth and rapid melting.

Located within the 1,310-square-kilometre Jostedalsbreen National Park, established in 1991, the Jostedal Glacier is the largest of its kind in continental Europe. It stretches over 60 kilometres across the municipalities of Luster, Sogndal, Sunnfjord, Stryn, and Skjåk. The ice reaches a maximum thickness of 600 metres, while its highest point, Høgste Breakulen, sits at 1,957 metres above sea level. Nearby, the peak of Lodalskåpa rises even higher to 2,083 metres.

The glacier’s survival is a delicate balancing act. Because it is maintained by high snowfall rates rather than consistently low temperatures, the glacier experiences significant melting at its snouts. These snouts, or glacier arms, reach deep into the valleys; branches like Bøyabreen and Nigardsbreen descend to just 300 metres above sea level. With around 50 distinct arms—including Briksdalsbreen, Tunsbergdalsbreen, and Austerdalsbreen—the system is highly dynamic and sensitive to environmental shifts.

Recent observations highlight the volatility of these ice formations. The Briksdalsbreen arm, for instance, retreated 146 metres in 2006 and lost an additional 50 metres of ice in just a few months during 2012. Such rapid changes have forced local adjustments, including the termination of ice climbing activities due to the risk of the arm detaching from the upper icefield. Beyond its geological significance, the glacier has become a cultural and economic fixture, with its waters even used in the production of Vikingfjord spirits and its terrain serving as a destination for tourists since at least 1906.

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