Lyngen Alps

Lyngen Alps
Lyngsalpan / Lyngsfjellan (Norwegian) Ittuvárit (Northern Sami) Yykeänvaarat (Kven)
View of Lyngen Alps Tvillingstinden and Tafeltinden − view from Skáidevárri
Highest point
Peak	Jiehkkevárri, Tromsø/Lyngen border, Norway
Elevation	1,834 m (6,017 ft)[1]
Prominence	1,741 m (5,712 ft)
Coordinates	69°29′09″N 19°52′36″E / 69.48583°N 19.87667°E / 69.48583; 19.87667
Dimensions
Length	90 km (56 mi) North-South
Width	15 km (9.3 mi) East-West
Naming
Native name	Lyngsalpene (Norwegian)
Geography
Location of the mountain range
Country	Norway
County	Troms
Municipalities	Balsfjord, Tromsø, Lyngen and Storfjord
Range coordinates	69°47′25″N 20°10′10″E / 69.7903°N 20.1695°E / 69.7903; 20.1695

The Lyngen Alps (Norwegian: Lyngsalpan or Lyngsfjellan, Northern Sami: Ittuvárit, Kven: Yykeänvaarat^[2]) are a mountain range in northeastern Troms county in Norway, east of the city of Tromsø. The mountain range is located on the Lyngen Peninsula and it runs through Lyngen Municipality, Balsfjord Municipality, Storfjord Municipality, and Tromsø Municipality. The mountains follow the western shore of the Lyngen fjord in a north-south direction. The length of the range is at least 90 kilometres (56 mi) (depending on definition—there are mountains all the way south to the border with Sweden) and the width is 15–20 kilometres (9.3–12.4 mi). The mountains dominate the Lyngen Peninsula, which is bordered by the Lyngen fjord to the east, and the Ullsfjorden to the west.

There are 140 glaciers in the mountains covering about 141 square kilometres (54 sq mi) of the Lyngen Peninsula at present. Gamvikblåisen and Strupenbreen are the two largest in the outer part of the peninsula, while in the interior Fornesbreen and the Jiehkkevárri glacial complex are the largest. The bedrock consists of a belt of ophiolitic gabbro that is flanked on both sides by predominantly schistose metasediments. The gabbro belt underlies the rugged mountains of Lyngsalpene. In the lowland areas between Oteren and Koppangen, amphibolites, greenstones, and greenshales predominate. In the lowlands on the eastern side of the Lyngen peninsula, mica schists, phyllites, and dolomites are mainly found. The lowlands on the western side are mainly composed of mica schists and a small amount of quartzites. Except for ice caps at the summits of Jiehkkevárri and Bálggesvárri, cirque glaciers dominate the present glaciation on the Lyngen Peninsula. The Lyngen Alps are sufficiently high as to give rain shadow in the interior lowland areas east of the mountains.^[3] The northward heat advection of air and water masses into the Norwegian Sea region produces some of the largest temperature anomalies in the world, with a mean January air temperature about 24°C warmer in Tromsø than the latitudinal mean.

The Lyngen Alps Landscape Reserve (Norwegian: Lyngsalpan landskapsvernområde) was established by the King of Norway on 20 February 2004 to protect one of Norway's characteristic mountain areas, which includes glaciers, moraines, valleys, and geological deposits, with biodiversity, cultural monuments, and cultural influences that characterize the landscape. The protection of natural resources within the landscape reserve is also important for the Saami culture and economy, and the site must be suitable for reindeer herding.^[4] Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway took part in the opening of the landscape reserve on May 22, 2004.^[5] The area of the Lyngen Alps landscape reserve is 961.2 square kilometres (371.1 sq mi). The nature reserve extends over four municipalities in Troms county.

There is a public transport connection between Tromsø and Lyngen via express boat to Nord-Lenangen and several bus routes. There are also ferries connecting Svensby and Breivikeidet, as well as the villages of Olderdalen and Lyngseidet. One of the main tourist attractions of Lyngen Alps is the glacier-fed lake Blåvatnet with a distinct turquoise color, located in Strupskardet valley.

Panorama view of the Lyngen Alps over the Balsfjorden as seen from Storsteinnes in 2009 February.