Svartfjelljøkelen is a
glacier
A glacier (; or ) is a persistent body of dense ice, a form of rock, that is constantly moving downhill under its own weight. A glacier forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. It acquires ...
located in
Loppa Municipality
Loppa ( and ) is a List of municipalities of Norway, municipality in Finnmark Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Øksfjord. Other villages in Loppa include Andsnes, Bergsfjord, Lan ...
in
Troms og Finnmark
Troms og Finnmark (; ; ; ) was a county in northern Norway that existed from 2020 to 2023. The county was established on 1 January 2020 as the result of a regional reform. It was the largest county by area in Norway, encompassing about , and w ...
county,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...
. The glacier covers an area of approximately , making it one of the smaller glaciers in the region.
The glacier reaches a maximum elevation of above sea level, while its lowest point is around above sea level.
Svartfjelljøkelen is situated about east of the village of
Bergsfjord
Bergsfjord is a village in Loppa Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland part of Loppa Municipality, along the Bergsfjorden, across from the island of Silda (Finnmark), Silda. The village of Sør-Tverrfjord ...
and around southwest of the village of
Nuvsvåg
Nuvsvåg is a village in Loppa Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The village is located on the mainland, along the Nuvsfjorden. This part of Loppa is a peninsula that has one road along the fjord, but it is only accessible by a ferry from ...
. It lies on the northern side of the Svartfjellet mountain, from which it takes its name.
Geography
The glacier is part of the mountainous terrain of western Finnmark, characterized by steep slopes, deep fjords, and a rugged coastline. Its location near the
Lopphavet
Lopphavet is a stretch of open sea along the border of Troms and Finnmark counties in Norway. It has a width of about , and it stretches between the large island of Sørøya in Finnmark and the islands of Arnøya and Nord-Fugløya in Troms. The ...
Sea means that it is influenced by maritime climatic conditions, leading to relatively high precipitation levels, especially in winter.
Glaciology
Svartfjelljøkelen, like many glaciers in northern Norway, has been experiencing retreat over the past decades due to climate change. Studies indicate that smaller maritime glaciers are particularly sensitive to temperature changes, with notable reductions in mass balance observed since the late 20th century. Monitoring by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) contributes to a broader understanding of glacier health in the Arctic regions of Europe.
Access and Tourism
Although not as well-known as some of the larger glaciers in Norway, Svartfjelljøkelen can be accessed by experienced hikers and mountaineers. The area around Bergsfjord and Nuvsvåg is popular for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and fishing, and offers scenic views of the glacier and surrounding fjords.
Environmental Significance
Svartfjelljøkelen plays a role in local hydrology, feeding into streams and rivers that contribute to the freshwater supply in the area. Its meltwater supports both ecological systems and human usage, particularly in summer when snowmelt peaks.
See also
*
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Svartfjelljokelen
Glaciers of Norway
Loppa