Briksdalsbreen is the most famous arm of the Jostedalsbreen, the largest glacier on the European mainland. It used to be Norway's most visited glacier. There is a 2.5-kilometre trail from the Briksdalsbre Mountain Lodge to the viewpoint, passing the Kleivafossen waterfall. Troll cars can drive you most of the way. They replaced the horse-and-cart service that had run for nearly a century.
In the 1990s, Briksdal was one of the only glaciers in Europe that was actually growing. By 1997 the ice covered the entire lake at its base. Then from 2001 it went into catastrophic retreat. By 2015 the tongue had retreated so far that length measurements were discontinued. Today what you see is an icefall high up on the mountain, not a glacier tongue reaching down to a lake.
Along the trail there are markers showing where the glacier was at different points in history. The one from 1860 is remarkably far from where the ice is today. The walk is still pleasant, but do not expect the glacier experience that the old tourism photos show.
In the 1990s, Briksdal was one of the only glaciers in Europe that was actually growing. By 1997 the ice covered the entire lake at its base. Then from 2001 it went into catastrophic retreat. By 2015 the tongue had retreated so far that length measurements were discontinued. Today what you see is an icefall high up on the mountain, not a glacier tongue reaching down to a lake.
Along the trail there are markers showing where the glacier was at different points in history. The one from 1860 is remarkably far from where the ice is today. The walk is still pleasant, but do not expect the glacier experience that the old tourism photos show.