Lyngen Alps
Encyclopedia
The Lyngen Alps is a mountain range in northeastern Troms
, North Norway, east of Tromsø
, mostly in the municipalities of Lyngen
and Balsfjord
. The mountains follow the western shore of the Lyngen Fjord in a north-south direction. The length of the range is at least 90 km (depending on definition, there are mountains all the way south to the border with Sweden
), and the width is 15–20 km. The mountains dominate the Lyngen Peninsula, which is bordered by the Lyngen Fjord) to the east, and Ullsfjorden to the west. The British climber William Cecil Slingsby
was the first to climb many of the peaks.
The mountains are of alpine character, popular among extreme skiers. The highest summit is Jiekkevarre, 1833 m, the highest in Troms
; Store Lenangstind
is also a prominent mountain. There are several glaciers in the mountains. Lyngen Alps are sufficiently high as to give rain shadow
in the interior lowland areas east of the mountains.
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
, North Norway, east of Tromsø
Tromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
, mostly in the municipalities of Lyngen
Lyngen
Lyngen is a municipality and a fjord in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Lyngseidet.- General information :...
and Balsfjord
Balsfjord
Balsfjord is a municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Storsteinnes, while Nordkjosbotn at the head of the fjord is another village....
. The mountains follow the western shore of the Lyngen Fjord in a north-south direction. The length of the range is at least 90 km (depending on definition, there are mountains all the way south to the border with Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
), and the width is 15–20 km. The mountains dominate the Lyngen Peninsula, which is bordered by the Lyngen Fjord) to the east, and Ullsfjorden to the west. The British climber William Cecil Slingsby
William Cecil Slingsby
William Cecil Slingsby was an English mountain climber and alpine explorer.Slingsby first visited Norway in 1872 and fell in love with the country. He has been called the discoverer of the Norwegian mountains, and the father of Norwegian mountaineering...
was the first to climb many of the peaks.
The mountains are of alpine character, popular among extreme skiers. The highest summit is Jiekkevarre, 1833 m, the highest in Troms
Troms
or Romsa is a county in North Norway, bordering Finnmark to the northeast and Nordland in the southwest. To the south is Norrbotten Län in Sweden and further southeast is a shorter border with Lapland Province in Finland. To the west is the Norwegian Sea...
; Store Lenangstind
Store Lenangstind
Store Lenangstind is a mountain in Lyngen, Troms, Norway. It is within the Lyngen Alps mountain range and has the fourth highest primary factor in Norway. It's located about northwest of the village of Lyngseidet....
is also a prominent mountain. There are several glaciers in the mountains. Lyngen Alps are sufficiently high as to give rain shadow
Rain shadow
A rain shadow is a dry area on the lee side of a mountainous area. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them. As shown by the diagram to the right, the warm moist air is "pulled" by the prevailing winds over a mountain...
in the interior lowland areas east of the mountains.