How fjords were formed in Norway. Incredibly beautiful fjords of Norway. The silent fjord of Milford Sound
Norway is a country of fjords, famous for its beautiful nature and stunning landscapes. The fjords are clear proof of this. They are narrow, winding sea bays of glacial origin, which cut into the mainland for many kilometers. There are fjords in European and North American countries, but the largest and most beautiful cluster of such formations can be observed in the western part of Scandinavia. Thanks to his geographical location Norway has a huge number of beautiful fjords, which attract millions of tourists from all over the world. Lovers find their refuge here extreme species sports and just those who want to take a break from the civilization of big cities. See further description and photo 10 the best fjords in Norway, which will come in handy if you ever come to this country.
The most beautiful fjords in Norway
1. Geirangerfjord
One of the most popular Norwegian fjords is Geirangerfjord in the Sunnmøre region. The beauty of its landscape will captivate tourists and travelers. In addition to enjoying the splendor of the local landscapes, vacationers are invited to go fishing, rafting, horseback riding or kayaking. There are also two small villages in the bay where you can stay cruise ships. Another splendor of the Geirangerfjord is its waterfalls, emerging from the forest thickets and rushing straight into the waters of the bay. Geirangerfjord received object status World Heritage UNESCO.
2. Sognefjord
The record holder for the longest length among the best fjords in Norway is the Sognefjord, which also occupies the second longest position in the world. It is located in the province of Sogn og Fjordane. Visitors to Norway are invited to appreciate the beauty of this place both from the bay and from the land. Serene boat trips on a motor ship will give you a palette of colorful emotions, and on land tourists will be able to visit one (or several) of the five local colorful villages. Those interested can visit local attractions - national park, museum and church.
3. Lysefjord
This beautiful fjord in Norway gained its popularity thanks to the picturesque cliffs - Preikestolen and Kjerag - which are the main attractions of this place. Tourists are offered several travel routes (both land and water), each of which will present vacationers with its own picturesque and mesmerizing perspectives. In addition, on the top of the Preikestolen rock is the House of the same name, which opens its doors to its visitors, and in the summer offers them accommodation and meals. In Lysefjord, tourists can enjoy many active sports and recreational activities. The fjord is located in the Vestland region.
4. Oslofjord
One of the most beautiful fjords in Norway is the Oslofjord. This sea bay is unique in that there are over a thousand small islands throughout its territory. On land, you will find several of Norway's most wonderful cities, each of which is famous for something of its own: for example, Halden - found its place in the country's anthem, Drammen - gave the world the great biathlete Bjoerndalen. Like any other self-respecting fjord, there is also a pier for cruise ships.
5. Hardangerfjord
Spring is the best time to visit Hardangerfjord, as at this time of year the fjord's already picturesque beauty is enhanced by flowering trees. A little later, trees will begin to bend their branches everywhere, full of fruits: pears, apples, cherries (by the way, there are rumors that the most delicious cherries in all of Norway grow here). If we talk about the natural beauties of the Hardangerfjord, then they have practically no competition in all of Norway. The beautiful view of the mountains and glaciers fascinates tourists, the waterfalls captivate their views, and you will want to do fishing and boating here forever. Hardangerfjord is one of the best resorts countries. It is located in southwestern Norway.
6. Nærøyfjord
Nærøyfjord has the smallest width among the fjords of Norway (from 300 to 1000 meters). When you observe its landscape, you get the feeling that the water surface of the fjord is carefully squeezed between the mountain ranges that are trying to oppress it. The fjord got its name from the ancient Norwegian deity Njord, who was known as the patron of the sea. There are many small and medium-sized settlements on both sides of the fjord, which, coupled with the splendor of the landscape, creates a beautiful picturesque backdrop to Nærøyfjord.
7. Westfjord
Quite unusual in terms of definitions is the Norwegian Westfjord, because it is also characterized as an estuary or an open bay. On the territory of this fjord they have been fishing for cod since medieval times. And the killer whales that live in its waters have become a kind of “attraction” of the Westfjord, which many tourists come to see. It is better to relax here in the warm season, because in winter the fjord is often blown by cold frosty winds.
8. Porsangerfjord
The Porsangerfjord is in fourth position in terms of length among the fjords of Norway - its length exceeds 120 kilometers. The fjord originates near the small village of Lakselv, which has become very popular among tourists. Porsangerfjord offers vacationers to enjoy the beauty of its landscapes, catch a good fishing catch, and also visit the local Stabbursdalen National Park. The local nature is practically untouched by man and thereby charms its guests.
9. Trondheimsfjord
The Norwegian Trondheimsfjord has a unique climate and nature. It is named after the city of Trondheim, located on the shore of the estuary. This fjord is famous for the fact that there is virtually no snow here all year round. This is why the ecosystem in the coastal waters has formed unique - over 90 species live in the Trondheimsfjord sea fish. Mostly those who prefer peace and quiet come here to relax. But it’s worth considering that a significant portion of the fjord’s land area is occupied by a large, wealthy commercial area.
10. Storfjord
A special place among all the fjords of Norway is given to Storfjord. Translated, its name means “big fjord”. It is famous for the fact that, with its length of 110 kilometers, it also manages to split in two, forming two other fjords - Geirangerfjord and Tafjordfjord. But with all this, Storfjord remains “behind the scenes” of tourist life - it is little known and therefore not popular among vacationers, and information about it is not presented in almost any tourist brochure or postcard.
The meaning of the word “fjord” in Scandinavia is more general than in the rest of the world - for example, in the eastern part of Norway the term is also used for narrow freshwater lakes or even rivers.
However, a fjord is usually considered to be a rocky sea bay with a sinuous shape, penetrating inland for many kilometers. Most fjords are deeper than the adjacent sea level. The height of the rocks that form the shores of such a bay reaches several hundred meters, and the length exceeds the width many times. Usually, many branches branch off from the main fjord, forming a kind of tree-like structure.
Some regions of Chile, New Zealand, the USA, Russia, Canada and other countries can boast of the presence of such natural wonders. But the most interesting fjords are located in Scandinavia, and the most picturesque in Norway.
Norwegian fjords
Located in Greenland, Scoresby, whose length is 350 km, and the height of the rocky shores reaches almost 1.5 km, is considered the longest in Europe.
The second and third places are rightfully occupied by the Norwegian Sogneford and Hardangerfjord. The length of the first is 204 km with a maximum width of 6 km and a bank height of just over 1.3 km. The dimensions of the second are more modest - length 183 km, width 10 km, and height 750 m.
There are more than a thousand fjords in Norway. Some of them are extremely narrow (in some places no more than 250m), for example, Geirangerfjord or Nærøyfjord, while others, on the contrary, are wide like bays - Boknafjord or Thornheimsfjord. Often the fjords are so deep and wide (especially in western Norway) that they can only be crossed by ferry. Historically, these bays were the only possible main routes, since overland travel through such terrain is difficult, if not simply impossible. To this day, the fjords remain a serious obstacle to construction railways and highways.
Climate
In winter, the fjords usually do not freeze, thanks to the relatively warm ocean. Summer temperatures also depend on the distance of the ocean - on the outer parts they are quite moderate, while inside the summer is relatively long and warm. This climate makes it possible to grow fruits and berries on an industrial scale inside the fjords, in fields protected from the winds. Most of fruit and berry products grow on the slopes of the Hardangerfjord.
The most beautiful fjords
Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, located in southwestern Norway, are separated by a distance of 120 km and are part of the western Norwegian fjord, which stretches from Stavanger in the south to Åndalsnes 500 km in the northeast. Two fjords, which are among the longest and deepest in the world, are included in the list of the most picturesque. Numerous waterfalls, forested shores, lakes and glaciers create an unusually beautiful landscape. In 2005, Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In addition to the Sogne, Hardanger, Geiranger and Nærøyfjords, the following are popular among tourists:
- Lysefjord, thanks to the picturesque cliffs of Preikestolen and Kjerag;
- Oslofjord, on whose territory there are hundreds of small islands;
- Westfjord, in whose waters killer whales live, and many others.
Coral reefs
At the beginning of the 21st century, along the bottom of some Norwegian fjords, coral reefs located at depths of 40 to 150 m were discovered and partially explored. It is believed that it is thanks to their presence that the Norwegian coastline is such a good place for fishing. Many forms of life are found on reefs: plankton, corals, anemones, fish, several species of sharks and others. Most are specially adapted to living under high water pressure and in complete darkness.
Norway is considered one of the most interesting countries Europe precisely because of the beauty of its landscapes, which are made unusual by the fjords that intricately cut almost the entire coastline.
Today is a photo post about the fjords of Norway, which I was lucky enough to visit in July of this year. In weather like this outside the window, you especially want rich colors, and the fjord region of Norway is just the place where bright colors are in abundance.
Therefore, I invite you to my fairy tale, because for me a trip to amazing land glaciers and gorges became a real summer miracle. During our trip we stayed in excellent hotels, I can confidently recommend any of them. Links to hotels are provided in the description of each fjord.
What are fjords?
Fjords are narrow, winding sea bays of glacial origin, cutting into the mainland for many kilometers. There are similar formations in Greenland, Iceland, Canada, Chile, Montenegro, New Zealand and even Russia, but the largest and most beautiful section of fjords is located in the west of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Norway is not a cheap country, and most people go there for no more than a week. Therefore, I will tell you only about those places that, in my opinion, definitely deserve to be included in the trip itinerary. Getting to know the Norwegian fjords most often begins with or, which I wrote about earlier, but now let’s go to the sea!
Geirangerfjord
Geiranger is one of the most visited fjords in Norway, and this popularity is absolutely deserved and justified. It is only 15 km long, located 100 km from the city of Ålesund, is under UNESCO protection, and it is Geiranger that you most often see in photos and in tourist brochures.
If you have very little time for a vacation in Norway, you can visit only this one - there will be enough entertainment there for several days. We lived at the Hotel Union Geiranger, 4* - this one family hotel for some reason they love royalty. Price per room from 190€. Cool spa area and views of the mountains and fjord.
What to do in Geiranger:
— Hiking along Geiranger to the high mountain farms of Skageflo and Knivsflo. We had lunch at a Westeros farm where llamas and goats live. The food is delicious, the animals are clean, the views are breathtaking.
— Cruise on a ship or boat. We went on a boat ride and it was something! I already wrote more about it, there are a lot of photos, videos and prices on the link.
— Kayaking — in good weather It's nice to kayak along the cliffs and waterfalls of Geiranger.
- Fishing. The water contains cod, pollock, and salmon. You can fish all year round, just purchase a license first.
Salmon production on Geiranger — Trollstigen mountain road, aka “Troll Ladder”. The serpentine winding through the mountains at an angle of 9 degrees is one of the famous attractions of Norway. The length of the route is more than 100 km.
— Eagle Road- This is the steepest section of Trollstigen. A mountain serpentine with 11 very sharp turns and leading from the shores of Geiranger to the top of the mountain at an altitude of 620 m above sea level. This section of the route got its name in honor of the large number of eagles that live in that region.
Fords of Norway in the photo:
Viewpoints of Geirangerfjord
Ornesvingen
Having climbed to the top of the mountain along the Eagle Road, we find ourselves on observation deck Ornesvingen. There is indescribable beauty there and many Chinese in yellow clothes. If you're lucky with the weather, you can see the Seven Sisters waterfall. We leave the inhabitants of the Celestial Empire alone and move on.
By the way, if you don’t want to overpay for housing in the fjord region, you can rent an apartment or house in Norway - it will be cheaper than living in a hotel, especially if you are traveling with family or company.
Dalsnibba and Fludalsjuve
Observation platforms at an altitude of 1500 m. View of Geiranger, cleanest air, slight chill and a lot of stones - everything I like.
I'm in this photo :) @Photographer Niyaz Aksanov The surroundings of Geiranger, photos of the fjords of Norway:
Nordfjord
The pearl of the Norwegian fjord system. On the shores of the Nordfjord there is a wonderful place where the king of Norway fishes, as well as the beautiful turquoise lake Lovatnet, along which we rode bicycles. We lived at the Hotel Loenfjord, 3* - this is perhaps my favorite hotel I have ever lived in. It stands where the mountain river flows into the fjord. The food there is incredibly delicious, rooms from 200€.
Location: Norway
Coordinates: Sognefjord - 61°08"27.3"N 5°56"48.8"E, Hardangerfjord - 60°18"49.8"N 6°14"48.2"E, Lysefjord - 59°00"45.6"N 6 °20"58.4"E, Geirangerfjord - 62°06"04.6"N 7°05"41.9"E
Short description
The northwestern coast of Norway is completely indented by fjords, sung in the Old Norse sagas. Fjords are sea bays cutting deep into the land with high rocky shores.
Many of them are framed majestic mountains with snow caps on the peaks and waterfalls cascading from the rocks into the mirror-like surface of the water. Fjords were formed at the end of the Ice Age, when giant glaciers descending to the ocean literally pushed mountains apart, destroying the rocks that made them up, hollowed out the bottom, straightened the sides, forming characteristic U-shaped valleys. The destructive work of glaciers was followed by subsidence of land and rising sea levels, which led to flooding of valleys.
The warm North Atlantic Current has a softening effect on Norway's climate, so the water in the fjords almost never freezes. Seals, beluga whales, rainbow trout and salmon live in the fjord waters, and eagles soar in the skies above the rocky shores. The authoritative travel magazine National Geographic has awarded the fjords of Norway the title of the best tourist attraction in the world.
The magazine assessed the natural preservation of objects, their beauty and the reasonableness of their management. The Norwegian fjords are not just picturesque landscapes, but also excellent opportunities for active recreation, such as mountaineering, canoeing, kayaking and rafting, fishing, and horse riding. Two of the three longest fjords on the planet are located in Norway.
Geirangerfjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord, the world's second largest fjord after Greenland's Scoresby, extends more than 200 kilometers into the rocky coastline. Its mighty rocks are 1308 meters submerged under water. The Sognefjord has many side branches, which in turn form daughter fjords.
On their banks lie colorful towns, folklore villages, wooden churches with intricate carvings, glaciers and National parks. In the village of Undredal there is the smallest functioning church in Scandinavia, designed for forty parishioners. Its construction dates back to 1147. For the beauty and severity of its shores, the Sognefjord received the respectful nickname “king of the fjords.”
Lysefjord
Hardangerfjord
Hardangerfjord, where the shores are flatter, there is more greenery and the climate is milder, can be called the “queen of the Norwegian fjords”. This is the third longest fjord in the world. In spring, orchards bloom on its banks. Throughout the summer, small farms sell ripe cherries, apples, pears and plums. 40% of all fruits in Norway are grown in this region. Even in summer you can ski on the glaciers of the Hardangerfjord. The Hardangervidda plateau is a favorite summer pasture for wild reindeer. The nature center, opened in the town of Eidfjord, offers an opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the fjords and the life of the local population. There is an aquarium and interactive screens, and panoramic documentaries are shown in a special hall.
Lysefjord
Lysefjord is best known for the giant flat-topped cliff Preikestolen (“Priest’s Pulpit”). From its top, hanging over the fjord at an altitude of 604 meters, amazing views open up. And the Kjorag mountain plateau has been chosen by rock climbers and fans of a new type of parachuting - base jumping.
Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord is famous for its magnificent landscapes, protected by UNESCO. Geiranger has been little developed by humans - there are no power plants or other facilities on its rivers that were built on other fjords in Norway. Geirangerfjord is surrounded by steep cliffs, mountains covered with lush greenery, and countless waterfalls, the most famous of which are the Seven Sisters and the Groom. There is a legend about these waterfalls. One day a brave Viking came to the village to woo.
Sognefjord
He liked the seven beautiful sisters, and the girls were so good that he did not know which one to choose. So the Viking froze in thought at the break of the ridge, turning into a waterfall, and the sisters, exhausted by the long wait, froze in the form of seven gentle streams on the opposite bank.
The most famous are the Norwegian fjords. As a result of the movement of the earth's plate many years ago, a large number of faults and cracks were formed in this part of the land. Many of them are quite deep, they go below sea level. These faults were turned into long bays filled with sea water. As time passed, the glaciers completed the action they had begun; along the river valleys, as well as the resulting faults, they made a direct path to the water - to the sea. It is because of this that the water here has a different color and shade. Cruises along the fjords of Norway are very popular among tourists, and the Norwegians themselves claim that each of the fjords has not just its own landscape, but also character. The Norwegian fjords are distinguished by their landscape, which cannot be found everywhere on Earth. Just imagine: you are in a boat, and in your surroundings there are rocks of extraordinary beauty. From the almost vertically located mountain slopes, water flows into the fjord from local waterfalls, which originate in glaciers. Fish swim in the lakes, which may be presented to you for dinner. You can go fishing, then seagulls begin to circle near the boat, waiting for you to catch a whole catch of mackerel. On the rocky cliffs there are farms that this moment are abandoned. In the region where the fjords are located there are small villages that can be easily reached. You can get to the mouth of the fjord by boat; with a guide you can go to the mountains, to the glacier, or in local restaurants to taste traditional dishes for these places. You can try lamb's head, if you're lucky. Some parts of the fjord region are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Thanks to their untouched nature and amazing landscapes, they are recognized as one of the most beautiful places in the world.
There are many fjords to which names are given. Hardangerfjord is famous for its Folgefonna glacier and orchards. You can even ski on the glacier in summer. The fjord is 179 kilometers long, making it the third longest fjord in the world. His maximum depth eight hundred meters. You can reach it from different cities: Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim. Everyone usually gets there possible types transport: by bus, plane, car and from some cities by train.
The Nordfjord extends to the ocean from the Jostedalsbreen glacier, its length is about one hundred and ten kilometers. Local activities include: visiting the West Cape, summer skiing in Stryn, visiting historical monastery Selye, glacier climbing, hiking, fishing, canoeing, biking, rafting, horse riding and many other activities. It is convenient to get there from Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim. By bus or plane.
One of the most visited Norwegian fjords is Geirangerfjord; it is small, only twenty kilometers long. This fjord is distinguished by its stunning landscapes and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Activities include fishing, rafting, kayaking, horseback riding and summer skiing. The two villages of Geiranger and Gudvangen, located in the central part of the fjords, are considered one of the popular places where Scandinavian cruise ships dock. Amazing view from the Fludalsjuvet cliff, from here on the fjord the most best view, because she seems to be floating in the sky. Other local attractions are the Seven Sisters and Bridal Veil waterfalls, which pour their water into the mirror-like surface of the fjord from somewhere deep in the dense forests. Also visit the local museum; there are numerous artifacts on display here that tell the story of the history of the region. You can go down from the top of Djupvashut to the shore by cycling along a beautiful road, the reward for your efforts will be beautiful views seventeen kilometers. It is convenient to get there from Bergen, Oslo, Trondheim.
Lysefjord is famous for its rock called Preikestolen, located near the cities of Stavanger and Haugesend in the Ryfylke region. Active activities such as horse riding, hiking, base jumping and rock climbing are popular here. Getting to this fjord from the north and east is nothing short of a pleasure. The famous Ryfylkevegen road is located here, it goes along the highways rv520 and rv13 and extends to Roldal in the north from the south, from the ferry pier located in Oanes. You can get here from Oslo, Bergen and by boat from Stavanger. Look here at the two rocks Preikestolen and Kjerag. On the Kjerag rock there is a Kjeragbolten stone stuck between the rocks, from where all the tourists take their stunning photos, one of them is presented below. These are not all Norwegian fjords, there are others, you can’t describe them all, it’s better to go and see them once.