Kebnekaise

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See Kebnekajse for the Swedish band.

Kebnekaise
Kebnekaise, view from Tuolpagorni
Elevation	2,104 metres (6,903 ft)
Location	Sweden
Range	Scandinavian Mountains
Prominence	1,750 m (5,741 ft)^[1]
Coordinates	67°53′N 18°33′E / 67.883, 18.55Coordinates: 67°53′N 18°33′E / 67.883, 18.55
First ascent	1883 by Charles Rabot
Easiest route	rock/ice walk

Strolling reindeer in the Kebnekaise Valley,
August 2007

Kebnekaise (from Sami Giebmegáisi or Giebnegáisi, "Cauldron Crest") is the highest mountain in Sweden and Sápmi. The Kebnekaise massif, which is part of the Scandinavian Mountains, has two peaks, of which the southern, glaciated one is highest at 2,104 metres (ca. 6,900 ft) above sea level at the latest time of measurement. The north top (2,097 metres) is free of ice. Kebnekaise lies in Lapland, about 150 kilometres (ca. 90 miles) north of the Arctic Circle and west of Kiruna near the popular Kungsleden hiking trail between Abisko and Nikkaluokta.

The glacier has shrunk, therefore the summit is not as high as earlier. The top is traditionally said to be 2,111 m, and higher in the oldest measurement, i.e. 2,117 m. If the melting continues at the same rate, the south peak will sink below the north peak (which is the highest fixed point in Sweden) within a few years' time.^[2]^[3]

A mountain lodge, Kebnekaise mountain lodge (Kebnekaise fjällstation), is located at the foot of Kebnekaise. It is the starting point for an ascent via the western route (västra leden, ca. 13 km, 4–6 hrs to the summit) or the eastern route (östra leden, ca. 10 km, 3–5 hrs to the summit). The western route leads over scree slopes and the intermediate top Vierranvárri to the glaciated summit. The eastern route leads over glaciers and rocks (UIAA grade I-II) and is equipped with fixed, steel cables similar to a via ferrata.

View of the Kebnekaise valley, including the Tuolpagorni and the foot of Kebnekaise (to the right).

In Europe, there are no higher mountains further north. It is said that an area (of both Sweden and Norway) corresponding to 9% of Sweden's surface area can be seen from the summit, which approximates to more than 40,000 km² – almost the size of The Netherlands.