Briksdalsbreen
| Briksdalsbreen | ||
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 Briksdalsbreen March 2015 with Briksdalsvatnet in the foreground |
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| location | Briksdalen , Vestland ( Norway ) | |
| Mountains | Scandinavian mountains | |
| Coordinates | 61 ° 40 ′ N , 6 ° 53 ′ E | |
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The Briksdalsbre (Norwegian Briksdalsbreen, -en = male definite article) in Norway is a western branch of the largest mainland glacier in Europe, the Jostedalsbreen .
It is located in the municipality of Stryn in the north of the Vestland province north of the Sognefjord in the Jostedalsbreen National Park .
The highest point of the Briksdalsbre is about 1900 m above sea level. The glacier ended in a small meltwater lake, Briksdalsvatn (Norwegian: Briksdalsvatnet) at a height of 346 m until 2008. Since then he has withdrawn even further.
Since 1900, measurements have been made every year to determine where the leading edge of the glacier is. The glacier had advances around 1910 and 1930, but retreated about 800 m between 1932 and 1951. During this time the Briksdalsvatn was created. The leading edge has since made several advances and periods of retreats. During an advance between 1987 and 1997, the lake was completely covered by the glacier. After 1999 the glacier retreated quickly, so that in 2008 the lake was completely free again. The measurements are carried out by the Norwegian Watercourse and Energy Agency ( Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat , NVE).
The glacier has been a well-known tourist destination since the 19th century and attracts 300,000 visitors annually.
Three kilometers below the glacier, the Briksdal fjellstove mountain inn has been open since 1891, with restaurants and overnight accommodations.
