Park geography

A detailed look at the alpine terrain, glacial features, and administrative scope.

Jostedalsbreen National Park: geography

Location: Vestland, Norway. Recorded area: 1,310 km². Elevation: 350–2,018 m.

An illustration showing a lush green mountain valley with a winding river, flanked by tall cliffs and snow-capped peaks under a soft sunset sky.

Europe's largest mainland glacier preserved in dramatic alpine terrain

Jostedalsbreen National Park

Jostedalsbreen National Park is a protected area in western Norway that encompasses the largest glacier on the European mainland. Established in 1991 and expanded in 1998, the park covers 1,310 square kilometres across five municipalities in Vestland county. The park is centred on Jostedalsbreen, a massive ice mass that dominates the landscape and has shaped the surrounding terrain over millennia. The glacier system covers approximately 800 square kilometres of the park's total area, flowing from heights of over 2,000 metres down to valley floors. The protected area preserves not only the glacier itself but also the dramatic mountain landscape of the Jostedalen region, including peaks, valleys, and the geological legacy of glacial advance and retreat. The park holds IUCN Category II designation, reflecting its national significance as a conservation area and its value for scientific study, education, and public appreciation of glacial environments.

Location: Norway
Park type: National park
Established: 1991
Area: 1,310 km²
Highest point: 2,083 m

Jostedalsbreen National Park protected area

Location overview

National and regional placement within the Vestland county of Norway

Geographic Setting of Jostedalsbreen National Park in Norway

Jostedalsbreen National Park is situated entirely within the Vestland region of Norway. As a single-country protected area, it features no marine, coastal, or transboundary territory.

Countries: Norway
Regions: Vestland
Primary location: Vestland
Geographic setting: Inland

Boundary and coordinates

Geographic dimensions and spatial extent covering 1310 square kilometers.

Jostedalsbreen National Park Boundary Map and Spatial Extent

Mapped boundary geometry outlines the physical limits of the protected area to provide essential spatial context. Calculated geographic facts detail the estimated total area, perimeter, coordinate limits, and central points.

Boundary area: 1,308.5 km²
Boundary perimeter: 433.4 km
Northernmost point: 61.9108° N
Southernmost point: 61.361° N
Easternmost point: 7.4349° E
Westernmost point: 6.4475° E
Geographic centre: 61.6645° N, 6.9815° E
North–south span: 61.3 km
East–west span: 52.4 km

Jostedalsbreen nasjonalpark

Elevation and terrain

Mountain relief range, peaks, glaciers, and recorded natural features

Jostedalsbreen National Park Terrain and Elevation Profile

This park terrain overview details the recorded elevation range and mountain relief metrics spanning the protected area. Individual feature cards list glaciers, peaks, and waterways located within the regional boundary.

Elevation span

1,668 m

Vertical extent from the lowest to the highest recorded elevation in the park

Minimum elevation: 350 m
Maximum elevation: 2,018 m
Highest point: 2,083 m

Selected named natural features

Glaciers

Teibreen

Glaciers

Røykjedalsbreen

Waterfalls

Austre Tindefjellsfossen

Streams

Spirefossa

Peaks

Skyttarpiggen

1,411 m

Streams

Tverradøla

Jostedalsbreen National Park Natural Features

Environmental setting

Subpolar climate zones, glacial relief, and alpine meadow habitats across mountain terrain

Jostedalsbreen National Park Environmental Classifications and Physical Settings

Stored landscape features, habitat types, and climate categories provide complementary ways to examine the physical setting of Jostedalsbreen National Park. Recorded classifications link directly to related environmental records within the broader protected area atlas.

Relief: Mountain
Climate: Subpolar
Water: Major water bodies
Forest cover: No forest cover
Seasonality: Seasonal

Landscape features

Mountains · Glacier

Habitat types

Glacial habitat · Alpine meadow

Park atlas

Compare glacial landscapes, mountain parks, and protected regions across Western Norway's Vestland county.

Explore Nearby National Parks and Protected Areas Surrounding Jostedalsbreen in Vestland, Norway

Continue your park discovery beyond Jostedalsbreen National Park by browsing other national parks and protected areas across Norway's Vestland county. Compare varied glacial, fjord, and mountain protected landscapes, tracing the geographic spread of conservation efforts throughout this distinctive Western Norwegian terrain.

A stylized illustration of a snow-covered mountain peak rising above a winding river valley, surrounded by green forests, rocks, and purple wildflowers in the foreground.

National parkInnlandet

Mapped location lies within the park boundary#1 closest

Northeast

Breheimen National Park: Protected Glacial Landscapes and Mountain Terrain in Innlandet

Norway's prominent national park featuring active glaciers and alpine geography.

Breheimen National Park represents a significant protected landscape within Norway's Innlandet region, dedicated to conserving its unique glacial formations and dramatic alpine terrain. The park's vast area encompasses active glaciers, soaring peaks, and a notable diversity of natural environments, from lush valleys to barren plateaus. MoriAtlas facilitates a detailed exploration of Breheimen National Park, highlighting its mapped protected boundaries and its integral role in the regional geography and protected areas atlas.

Area: 1,671 km²
Established: 2009
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Breheimen National Park Atlas

Watercolor illustration of a mountain range with green hills and a lake in the foreground

National parkNorway

28 km away#2 closest

East

Jotunheimen National Park

Explore mapped glacial terrain and alpine geography.

Jotunheimen National Park, in Norway. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and glaciers.

Area: 1,151 km²
Established: 1980
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Jotunheimen National Park Atlas

A stylized digital illustration of a cascading river flowing through a deep valley surrounded by pine trees and snow-capped mountains under a pale sky.

National parkInnlandet

About 47 km away#3 closest

Northeast

Reinheimen National Park: Norway's Vast Protected Wilderness Landscape and Alpine Geography

Map of protected boundaries and diverse mountain terrain.

Reinheimen National Park is a cornerstone of Norway's protected areas, encompassing a substantial portion of Western Norway's alpine wilderness. This national park protects a dynamic landscape characterized by dramatic western peaks and gentler eastern plateaus, providing critical habitat for wild reindeer and other wildlife. Its extensive mapped boundaries and varied natural terrain offer a rich subject for geographic discovery and atlas exploration, highlighting the ecological significance of well-preserved mountain ecosystems within Innlandet.

Area: 1,969 km²
Established: 2006
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Reinheimen National Park Atlas

Watercolor painting showing a mountainous landscape with a waterfall, grassy fields, and wildflowers

National parkInnlandet

82 km away#4 closest

Northeast

Dovrefjell, Sunndalsfjella National Park

Explore its protected boundaries, mountain terrain, and unique ecological significance.

Dovrefjell, Sunndalsfjella National Park, in Innlandet, Norway. Landscapes: mountains, valleys, and rivers.

Area: 1,693 km²
Established: 2002
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Dovrefjell, Sunndalsfjella National Park Protected Landscape

Abstract watercolor landscape with soft pastel hues of green, pink, yellow, and purple

National parkNorway

About 94 km away#5 closest

South

Hallingskarvet National Park: Norway's High Mountain Plateau and Protected Wilderness

Mapping glacial terrain, alpine environments, and wild reindeer habitat.

Hallingskarvet National Park offers a unique window into Norway's geological history and alpine ecology. This protected landscape encompasses the striking Hallingskarvet plateau and the Vargebreen glacier, along with deep valleys carved by ancient ice. Users can explore the park's mapped boundaries, understand its regional geographic setting in Scandinavia, and appreciate its conservation value as a habitat for wild reindeer. The park's terrain provides a concrete example of glacial shaping and high-altitude ecosystems within the Nordic context.

Area: 450 km²
Established: 2006
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain

Hallingskarvet National Park Map

A soft watercolor painting depicting a wide, open mountain landscape with rolling green hills, muted yellow foreground vegetation, and pale purple mountain ridges in the distance.

Protected landscapeInnlandet

About 101 km away#6 closest

Northeast

Fokstugu landskapsvernområde: Alpine Protected Landscape and Regional Ecological Corridor

A vital bridge for mountain migration in Innlandet, Norway.

Fokstugu landskapsvernområde protects a unique mix of alpine terrain, geological formations, and cultural mountain heritage across the Dovrefjell plateau. Serving as a connective corridor between major national parks, this protected area maintains essential migratory paths for wild reindeer and preserves traditional Norwegian upland farming features.

Area: 72.3 km²
Established: 2002
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Alpine

Explore Fokstugu landskapsvernområde Protected Landscape

Watercolor painting of mountain peaks with green valleys and grassy foreground

National parkInnlandet

103 km away#7 closest

East

Rondane National Park: Norway's Premier Alpine Protected Landscape and Historic National Park

Mapped glacial terrain, iconic peaks, and wild reindeer sanctuary.

As Norway's first national park, Rondane offers a profound exploration of a protected alpine environment. Situated in Innlandet county, its 963 square kilometers showcase a landscape sculpted by glaciers, featuring a striking array of ten peaks exceeding 2,000 meters. This page details Rondane National Park's distinct mapped boundaries, dramatic mountain geography, and its ecological significance as a refuge for wild reindeer, making it a cornerstone of Scandinavian natural heritage.

Area: 963 km²
Established: 1962
IUCN: II
Relief: Mountain