At the maximum extent of the last (Devensian) glaciation, 20,000 years ago, the whole of Nor way was covered in ice. By about 8,000 years ago, almost all that ice, including most of the areas covered by ice today, had melted. Today Norway’s glaciers cover 2,600 km² — around 1% of the total land area. The Jostedal ice cap, in southern Norway, is the largest ice cap in mainland Europe, covering 487 km² (Figure 1). It started to develop 5,000 years ago, and reached its maximum extent during the Little Ice Age, around 1750, when some valley farms were destroyed by advancing glaciers.
This area is on the same latitude as the southern tip of Greenland, but glaciers exist here not just because of the influence of latitude and altitude. The maritime location results in 1,900 mm of precipitation each year. During the winter months this can fall as up to 2 metres of snow.
Your organisation does not have access to this article.
Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise
Subscribe
