Jostedalsbreen National Park is a landscape shaped by ice and water. The National Park was established by Royal Decree on 25 October 1991. It covers 1230 sq. km, half the area is glacier covered, and 90 % is above 800 m elevation. The Jostedalsbreen is the largest glacier on the European Continent with an area of 487 km² (188 sq. miles).
The purposes behind establishing the National Park were:
- to protect a large, varied glacier area with associated fauna, flora and geology
- to permit enjoyment of nature not dependent upon technical facilities
- to protect our cultural heritage
Facts about the Jostedalsbreen
| Area: |
487 km² (188 sq. miles) |
| Length: |
80 km (50 miles) |
| Highest elevation: |
1957 m asl. (Høgste Breakulen) |
| Lowest elevation: |
60 m asl. (the foot of the glacier Supphellebreen) |
| Maximum thickness: |
600 m |
| Greatest snowdepth measured: |
12 m |
| Total erosion of rock material: |
400 000 tons/year |
| Glacier volume: |
73 km³ (95 • 10 cu.yd) |
| Fresh water equivalent: |
73 • 10¹² litres (16 • 10¹² gal.)
= 300 thousand millions bathtubs of water
= the water consumption in Norway for 100 years |