Building a tunnel back to the past

The ice tunnel will take its visitors to a trip to the unknown, a journey in time where ice melting from earlier times will be drawn as circles in the ice.

- How long back in time we can come will be clear when we build the tunnel and take tests. This is going to be the first tunnel of its kind in North Europe, says Espen Finstad, Project manager for Klimapark2469.

- It will be a spectacular and special experience to be able to wander into the ice. With a unique possibility of studying climate history and observing climate this ice tunnel will also be of big research importance. If the formal part is fixed, the tunnel will be built by summer.

On nature’s premisses

World’s leaders travel to the arctic territories to be able to see for themselves what is happening as for melting and global warming. There are high alpine areas that show many of the same processes and that are easier available for most people. The area around Juvfonna ice patch is such an area.

- Around 50 000 people visit the area annually. The road up to Juvasshytta tourist lodge does this place universally available, and opens new possibilities for education of groups that before didn’t have a chance to experience glaciers, permafrost, reindeers and other alpine phenomena at close sight, says Finstad.

Archaeologists have recently found 50 bow positions where Viking hunters hid when hunting reindeers, and collected approximately 400 findings.

- It is 700 meters to walk from Juvasshytta lodge to Juvfonna ice patch. The plan is to make ice tunnel available for public trough guided tours. All facilitation will happen on premises of nature and cultural heritage site, says Finstad.

Up to 20 meters deep

Klimapark project fulfilled a radar scanning of Juvfonna ice patch last summer. The results of scanning show that it is up to 20 meters deep. An ice tunnel is going to be a very measured intrusion into ice patch, and will not have any negative consequences as for melting, findings or other things.

- We want to test it out as for research and education aspects now in 2010. The plan is to cut out a 20-30 meters tunnel in May. If the tunnel as attraction and research arena is successful, it can later be expanded both in lengths, different departments and various research- and dissemination concepts, says Finstad.

Building of the ice tunnel will be done by French experts who have already done the same on Svalbard and in the Alps. The work will be done manually and will take around two weeks. The tunnel will be about 2,5 meters wide and equally high.

After pulling into the ice from the surface, the tunnel will be about 5 – 10 meters below the surface. Glaciologists have calculated that the temperature inside the tunnel will be at freezing point all year round and deformation of tunnel will be minimal. Juvfonna ice patch lies in absolute peace as opposed to a glacier.

Applying for exemption

Tunnel construction and testing of research- and dissemination plan is not in line with the current plan for the area. The Klimapark project is therefore seeking exemption from regulation plan in order to start work in May. The change in regulation for this area will eventually be launched.

Lom Mountain Board and Statsskog (Norwegian State Forest Organisation) as landowners are very positive and write: “Statsskog shares Mountain Board’s vision and look positively at what is going to evolve through the project of Klimapark 2469, and that this area will in short time be able to emerge as a unique venue for research, education and experiences – both for school classes, researchers, tourists and other groups”.

 The pilot project to Klimapark2469 is in the final phase. Visions and plans will be launched in March.

Klimapark 2469 is starting to work with a unique and spectacular attraction. Under Juvfonna ice patch a 30-meters long ice tunnel is going to be built in may 2010.