Helheim Glacier

Helheim Glacier is a glacier in the Sermersooq municipality, Eastern Greenland.

Helheim Glacier
Helheim Gletscher
View of the Helheim Glacier
Location within Greenland
Location	Sermersooq, Greenland
Coordinates	66°21′N 38°12′W
Terminus	Helheim Fjord, Sermilik, North Atlantic Ocean

This glacier's name is derived from "Helheim", a modern term for a world of the dead in Old Norse religion: Hel.

Geography

The Helheim Glacier is located on the eastern side of the Greenland ice sheet. It is one of Greenland's largest outlet glaciers.^[1][2][3] It flows roughly in an ESE direction and feeds the waters of the Helheim Fjord, a branch at the northern end of the Sermilik (Danish: Egede og Rothes Fjord) system, where there are a number of other glaciers calving and discharging at rapid rates such as the Fenris and the Midgard Glacier.^[4]

Retreat

Helheim Glacier accelerated from 8 km (5.0 mi) per year in 2000 to 11 km (6.8 mi) per year in 2005.^[5] Like many of Greenland's outlet glaciers, it is a common site where glacial earthquakes are monitored.^[6]

Retreat of Greenland's Helheim Glacier from 2001 to 2005

See also

• List of glaciers in Greenland