Nigardsbreen

Nigardsbreen

Nigardsbreen and lake Nigardsbrevatnet in 2012
Location in Sogn og Fjordane

Location in Sogn og Fjordane

Type Valley glacier
Location Luster, Norway
Coordinates 61°41′12″N 07°11′45″E / 61.68667°N 7.19583°ECoordinates: 61°41′12″N 07°11′45″E / 61.68667°N 7.19583°E
Area 48 km2 (19 sq mi)

Nigardsbreen is a glacier arm of the large Jostedalsbreen glacier. Nigardsbreen lies about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north of the village of Gaupne in the Jostedalen valley, Luster, Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It is located just west of the Jostedøla river.[1]

The Breheimsenteret museum is located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south in the village of Jostedal. In front of the Nigardsbreen is the lake Nigardsbrevatnet where there is a small boat to transport visitors to the glacier. There is also a bus to take visitors to the glacier.

History

During the first half of the 18th century, the glacier expanded due to cold weather. Then during the winters of 1741-1744 were extremely cold. Apples and pears did not ripen during the summer and the bee populations perished. Between 1700 and 1748, the glacier moved forward about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) completely covering and crushing the "Nigard" farm (hence the name of the glacier). By 1748, the Nigardsbreen covered about 48 square kilometres (19 sq mi). From 1930 until 1939, the glacier retracted again.

Safety

In 2014 two tourists died as a result of being crushed by ice.[2][3][4]

Media gallery

References

  1. ↑ Store norske leksikon. "Nigardsbreen" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  2. ↑ Ektepar omkom i breulykken - Barna på åtte og ti år ble øyenvitner. Kriseteamet i Luster tar seg nå av barna. [Married couple died in the glacier accident - The children, eight- and nine years old were eyewitnesses. The crisis team of Luster are now with the children.]
  3. ↑ Like etterpå skjedde breulykken [Shortly after, the glacier accident occurred]
  4. ↑ – Vi kan ikke forestille oss hvordan barna må føle det [We can not imagine how the children must feel]
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