Location Hordaland, Norway Thickness 380 m | Area 73 km² | |
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Hardangerjøkulen is the sixth largest glacier in mainland Norway. It is located in the municipalities of Eidfjord and Ulvik in Hordaland county. It is located about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northeast of the village of Eidfjord, about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Finse, and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Haugastøl.
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Map of Hardangerj%C3%B8kulen, Norway
Hardangerjøkulen's highest point is 1,863 m (6,112 ft) above sea level, and is the highest point in Hordaland county. Its lowest point is 1,050 m (3,440 ft) above sea level. The thickest measurement of the glacier was 380 metres (1,250 ft) thick, but it has been getting thinner during the 20th century.
Accessibility
The glacier is easily accessed from the north in the winter, from the village of Finse, which is only accessible by stopping at Finse Station on the Bergensbanen railway line. In the winter the highest point can be accessed from Finse using only skis.
Recent history
The 1980 movie The Empire Strikes Back used Hardangerjøkulen as a filming location, for scenes of the ice planet Hoth, including a memorable battle in the snow.