Folgefonna

Folgefonna is a collective term for three plateau glaciers in Hardanger, Norway,

• Nordre Folgefonna (26 km²)
• Midtre (central) Folgefonna (11 km²)
• Sønde Folgefonna (167 km²), the third largest glacier in the mainland of Norway.

In total, Folgefonna covered 207 km² in 2006. 14 May 2005 Folgefonna National Park was established, protecting the glaciers and the surrounding areas.

The glacier is home to a summer skiing resort, located on its northern region. The largest outflow glaciers from Folgefonna are Blomstølskardbreen, Bondhusbreen and Buarbreen. Since around 1960 Blomstølskardbreen on the southern end of Folgefonna has changed only insignificant. Bondhusbreen and Buerbreen further north were growing in the 1990s, but have been retreating since the year 2000.

The melt-water from this glacier is bottled at source to form the product Isklar.

The name

The first element is folge f 'thin layer of snow', the last element is the finite form of fonn f 'mass of snow, glacier made of snow'.

See also

• List of glaciers in Norway
• List of mountains in Norway by prominence

References

• Folgefonna og Fjordbygdene. Book published in 2008 by University of Bergen and Nord4(591 pp. in Norwegian)

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