Folgefonna

Folgefonna (also called Folgefonni ) is the name of a glacier in the Norwegian Hardanger region. It is 214 km ² is the third largest mainland glacier in Norway (after Jostedalsbreen and svartisen ). In the subdivision into sections of the glacier surface results in the following distribution: north Folgefonna 25 km ², medium Folgefonna 9 km ² and 180 km ² south Folgefonna.

Location

The glacier is located in the high mountain region of the Folgefonna peninsula between Bosvik in the east, the south and Åkrafjord Hardanger Fjord in the west. The glacier covers parts of the municipalities Jondal, Ullensvang, Odda, Etne and Kvinnherad, all belonging to the Hordaland Fylke.

The highest point of the glacier is 1662 moh. , The lowest 400 moh. Folgefonna has several offshoots, including Bondhusbreen, Blomsterskardsbreen and Buerbreen.

Subdivision

The shield glacier is now divided into three ice rinks. These are called Sønder Folgefonni, Midtre Folgefonni and Nordre Folgefonni. Hydrological drained the entire glacier in five river systems ( Vassdragsnr. 042, 045, 046, 047 and 048). These are in turn divided into individual river systems such as that of the glacier is divided into a total of 27 different water systems. These have usually also has its own water system number to a measuring point. Understandably, the amount of dewatering is not precisely determined in a glacier of this size. Also the respective drainage area per water system is not exactly detected. Not every water system also has a number associated glacier names, while others can certainly have several names, each indicating a glacier tongue, which drain into the same river. For example, the Buerelvi (water 048.B1 number ) has two named and an unnamed glacier tongue. Named are the Buerelvi the Lower and Upper Buerbreen.

Folgefonna National Park

Since 29 April 2005 the Folgefonna the 25th national park in Norway. Both the glacier as well as a large part of the landscape around are now protected, along 545.2 km ². ( See: Folgefonna National Park )

Formation

Folgefonna is no rest of the ice age. After the end of the last Ice Age, the ice retreated rapidly and the ice in the area melted away completely. It was only around 2500 years, the northern part of the glacier formed ( Nordre Folgefonna ) new during a period of low temperatures and increased rainfall. With periodic variations he had about the same extent as the present glaciers. The remaining parts of the glacier have a parallel history.

Folgefonntunnel

Across the mountain was built a 11,150 m long toll tunnel, which was opened in 2001. This Rosendal easily fits in Odda.