28/05/2026
Did you know that glaciers are constantly changing?
Year after year, they show different sizes and shapes, depending on many factors. New measurements from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) show how fast some of them are retreating.
At Austerdalsbreen, one of the outlet glaciers from Jostedalsbreen, the glacier front retreated close to 300 metres in 2025 alone. According to NVE, much of this retreat is linked to the glacier now calving into a glacial lake.
The new report also highlights long-term changes across Norway. Since 2000, Norwegian glaciers have shrunk considerably due to a warming climate. Measurements from 37 glaciers in 2025 showed that 33 had retreated since last year.
Jostedalsbreen is Europe’s largest mainland glacier, covering around 487 km², and its outlet glaciers have been monitored for decades. These measurements help researchers understand how glaciers respond to changing temperatures, snowfall and rainfall patterns over time.
Glaciers are more than landscapes. They are active systems of ice, water and climate history — always moving, melting and reshaping the valleys around them.
Source: Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE)