Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg recently attended the grand opening of a new visitor’s center at the entrance to the Jostedal Glacier National Park in the county of Sogn og Fjordane. It replaces the previous visitor’s center that burned down in July 2011.
“That was not just a loss for the local community, but also for the country,” Stoltenberg wrote on his Facebook page.
“Breheimsenteret is located between the two most precious jewels of of Norway’s nature; the Jostedal glacier, whichs is the largest glacier on the European mainland, and the Breheimen national parks,” wrote Stoltenberg, known to be an avid outdoorsman himself. “The center opens up to fantastic nature experiences and conveys knowledge and insight.”
The center has viewing platforms, a high-tech museum and organizes a range of outdoor activities like guided glacier hiking, rafting and canyon exploring. It also promotes the classic Norwegian pasttime of hiking in the mountains and valleys.
Officials at Breheimen admit that the local glaciers are by no means immune to global warming. They promised at the opening, though, that their area will offer serious glacier-watching for many years to come, as the huge volume of ice means that melting is slow.
The center is headed by Peder Kjærvik, posing above with Stoltenberg near the scenic Nigarsbreen glacier, which is the most accessible glacier in the area.
newsinenglish.no staff
PHOTO: Statsministerens kontor
