The Brafonne Glacier, once called the "pride of the whites" of the Rugalann region and the "south pole of Norway," is now disappearing very quickly. Scientists predict that the Braillon Glacier may completely disappear within 10 years.
New research published in the scientific journal Annals of Glaciology in 2025 shows that the Braillon Glacier has lost 93-94 percent of its area since the 1950s. Compared to 3.3 square kilometers in 1955, by 2024 this area had decreased to only 0.17 square kilometers.
Breifonn was previously a single ice sheet on the border of the Rugalann and Westland regions, but from the 1980s it began to break into separate fragments. Glacier erosion has accelerated since 2018, which is associated with the warming of summers and mild winters. Scientists have recorded a 45-meter shrinkage in some parts of the glacier since the late 1970s.
In recent years, the largest glacial remnants have been losing about one meter of thickness annually. Braillon's location also contributes to his vulnerability. The glacier is low and flat, with a height of less than 200 meters, which eliminates the possibility of retreating to colder regions with climate warming.
The Brafonne Glacier is now listed on the Global Glacier Casualty List, and its sudden decline has led to its inclusion on the List of Glaciers at Risk of Extinction. Scientists plan to observe the glacier via satellite, and assumptions about its future are being made.
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