Svartisen

Svartisen is a glacial system in Nordland county, Norway. It is the second-largest glacier on the Norwegian mainland, after Jostedalsbreen, and consists of an ice cap with several outlet glaciers. The best-known outlet is Engabreen, which descends to sea level along the Holandsfjorden. The name Svartisen means “the black ice,” a reference to its dark surface caused by rock flour and impurities.

Geography and composition: The glacier sits across the Meløy and Rødøy municipalities in the Helgeland region, west of the Saltfjellet plateau. The Svartisen ice field forms a broad, uneven ice surface that feeds multiple glacier tongues and contributes to the surrounding valleys, moraines, and rivers.

Protection and park status: The Svartisen area lies within Saltfjellet–Svartisen National Park, a protected area established to preserve glacial landscapes, alpine ecosystems, and highland plateaus.

Access and tourism: The region around Svartisen is a popular destination for hiking and glacier viewing. A visitor center provides information about the glacier, its dynamics, and climate history, and guided tours are offered to Engabreen and other glacier areas.

Climate and monitoring: Like many glaciers, Svartisen has retreated in recent centuries and continues to respond to climate variation. Ongoing research and monitoring track changes in extent, thickness, and meltwater contributions to local hydrology and regional energy resources.