Briksdalsbreen & Lovatnet

Описание: This is the first of six videos from northern Sogn og Fjordane (Vestland) and Møre og Romsdal, recorded in September 2024, showcasing the dramatic natural beauty of the area. To start, this drive covers the roads to Briksdalsbreen and Lovatnet, which I first visited in 2018 but in poor weather so I never did anything with the footage. This time round, the weather was a mix of morning fog and bright sun.

Out of all the dashcam videos I've posted, this is one is the most relaxing, starting in thick fog that quickly melts away to reveal the majestic peaks and glaciers of Jostedalsbreen National Park, there's a spectacular view around every corner. However, despite the beautiful scenery, both locations tell a tragic story.

Briksdalsbreen is a glacial arm of the much larger Jostedalsbreen. If you go back to 2010, the ice extended down to the lake below but today, the ice is now barely clinging on as it retreats further up the cliff. It's a stark reminder that we live in a World with a rapidly changing climate and it's depressing to see just how far the ice has receded in the last decade (it wasn't looking too healthy when I was there in 2018, either).

Lovatnet is a vibrant glacial lake that is surrounded by huge, imposing mountains. It's sheltered location often means the lake is calm and reflective but that calmness has been shattered by avalanches. In 1905 and 1936, two huge rockfalls dropping directly into the lake caused massive tsunami waves to devastate the surrounding villages and farms. 61 people lost their lives in 1905 and 74 people were lost in 1936 as a result of the landslides. A memorial can be found at the southern end of the lake, as well as the remains of a boat launched 300m inland, which now rests in the middle of the forest.