Svartisen

Svartisen (The black ice) is Norway’s second-largest glacier, and covers an area of about 370 square kilometers. In the ‘small ice age’ in the middle of the 18th century, Svartisen was one continuous glacier. Today it is divided into two: the eastern and western ice.

The glacier extends through the municipalities of Rana, Meløy and Rødøy, all in Nordland county. The Svartisen was mapped in 1964, and is mainland Europe’s lowest glacier, only 20 masl. This makes the glacier easily accessible as a tourist destination. The highest point on the glacier in the west is Snøtinden, which is 1594 masl. In the east is the highest point Istinden with its 1572 masl. The name Svartisen comes from the old term «Svartis» (black ice). It describes the characteristic deep blue color of the ice, in contrast to the white snow. The ice masses show a range of blue tones, from transparent ice, to turquoise and dark blue.

The Arctic Circle runs over the southern part of the glacier.

The easiest accessible glacier

Large parts of Svartisen are located at an altitude of 12-1400 meters. On the ice plateau, mild, moist air masses fall from the Atlantic Ocean like snow most of the year, and the ice masses grow. Then the ice gradually descends the valleys and forms glacial tongues. The Engen glacier is the tongue that reaches the farthest down to the sea of both the glaciers on the Svartisen and on the whole of mainland Europe. It is therefore the most accessible glacier to visit in Europe. Engenbreen is located in the heart of the Holandsfjord in Meløy municipality.

How to reach it

If you are on a tight schedule and just passing by, you can get a glimpse of the glacier from Holansvika resting area along Road 17. If you have more time to spare, Engenbreen shuttle boat runs a fixed route across the fjord from Holandsvika just off the main road. The trip takes 10 min and runs from the end of May to the beginning of September. Here you get a chance to see the glacier up close.
It is also possible to do glacier hiking or glacier climbing, or if you are staying, visit the tame moose at the camp ‘Svartisen Moose’. More info at “Visit Bodø”.