Gjende is perhaps the name that is most closely associated with Jotunheimen
besides Besseggen and Galdhøpiggen. Lake Gjende is about 20 km
long and has an average width of 1 km. The surrounding mountainsides rise
up as high as 1,300 metres from the lake's surface in some areas. A maximum
depth of approximately 150 metres makes Lake Gjende the deepest lake in
Jotunheimen National Park (although deeper Lake Bygdin is situated outside
of the national park). Gjende is an excellent lake for fishing and the
lake's northern shoreline features fertile vegetation including varied
wildlife. Lake Gjende is also known for its blue green (cyan) colouring.
This is the result of a vast amount of glacial particles being washed
into Gjende and their reflecting in the sunlight. The colouring is further
emphasized by the surrounding dark mountainsides and bright green vegetation,
which makes the contrasts even stronger. Lake Gjende was carved out by
the glacial ice. The lofty and resistant mountain masses to the north
and south are situated such that the ice masses were pressed together
within a smaller area while the huge expanse of the ice carved out the
lake's deep bottom. The ice drifted more outwards on either side as it
floated down towards the Sjoadalen Valley and did not carve quite so deeply
into the landscape as it had at Gjende.
