Folgefonna

Folgefonna is a collective term for three plateau glaciers in the Hardanger region of Vestland county, Norway. They are located on the Folgefonna peninsula in Ullensvang Municipality, Kvinnherad Municipality, and Etne Municipality. The three glaciers are:

Nordre Folgefonna, with an area of
Midtre Folgefonna, with an area of
Søndre Folgefonna, with an area of, making it the third largest glacier in the mainland of Norway.

In total, Folgefonna covers about . On 14 May 2005, Folgefonna National Park was established, protecting the glaciers and the surrounding areas.
The glacier is home to a summer skiing resort, located on its northern region. The largest outflow glaciers from Folgefonna are Blomstølskardbreen, Bondhusbreen, and Buarbreen. Since around 1960, Blomstølskardbreen on the southern end of Folgefonna has changed very little. Bondhusbreen and Buerbreen further north were growing in the 1990s, but have been retreating since the year 2000. The glacier is a famous tourist attraction. Most people who visit the town of Odda usually take the walk to Buarbreen.
The melt-water from this glacier is bottled at source to form the product Isklar. The melt-water also goes down the river from Buarbreen down into the lake Sandvinvatnet.

Name

The first element is folge meaning 'thin layer of snow' and the last element is the finite form of meaning 'mass of snow' or 'a glacier made of snow'.