All glaciers in Svalbard produce meltwater during the warm season and periods of mild weather and rain in the winter, and when the meltwater runs off, it will create meltwater channels on the surface and meltwater caves inside the glacier. In the winter, these channels will fall dry and thus form glacier caves. It is, however, important to know that some glaciers produce meltwater even in wintertime, so keep your eyes open! And never enter a glacier cave when it is raining …
Some glacier caves (sometimes called ice caves) are easily accessible. It is absolutely fascinating to be inside a glacier! During the winter season, tours to glacier caves are regularly on offer in Longyearbyen as half-day and day trips on foot, ski, snow shoe, snow mobile, snowcat and dog slege. All glaciers close to Longyearbyen have glacier caves, not only Longyearbreen which is shown here, but also Larsbreen and Scott Turnerbreen in Bolterdalen. The latter is the main destination for dog sleges, as it is inside a snow-mobile free area, beautiful for silent travelling (the same goes for Larsbreen, but that is too steep for dog sledges).
Glacier caves change from year to year. The glacier is moving and the meltwater is shaping the ice. Sometimes they are narrow and steep and difficult to access if not impossible. Other ice caves are easily accessible for everybody. Narrower, curved passages change with large halls – amazing! There are stalactites of ice and other fantastic structures. Unfortunately, they are fragile and easily damaged, so you will see more of them the earlier you come in the season. At least and in contrast to dripstones of carbonate rocks, they grow again quickly every years.
The glacier cave shown here was in upper Longyearbreen and it was quite narrow. It was difficult to photograph it with panorama technique!
It goes without saying that glacier caves should only be visited with proper experience, knowledge and equipment. Guided tours are regularly offered in Longyearbyen if you are not an experienced cave-dweller.
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.