Incredibly beautiful fjords of Norway. What are fjords? Fjords in Norway What is a fjord in geography

Its fjords are winding and narrow sea bays that have rocky shores and cut deep into the land. They were formed during the Ice Age after a sudden and dramatic movement that occurred in the tectonic plates of our planet.

Excursions to the fjords of Norway - general information

Thousands of tourists specifically combine a trip to the fjords with travel and relaxation. This country has the largest number of sea bays, stunning with their picturesque beauty. They are surrounded by mountain ranges and many small villages that attract with their colorfulness.

The depth of the fjords in Norway can reach 1308 m (Sognefjord). In other sea bays of the country, this value on average remains at 500–700 m. It depends on the method of formation, surrounding and landscape features.

Answering the question about where the fjords are located in Norway, it is worth saying that they are scattered throughout the country. Visits to some bays can be combined, while others will require a whole day or even several.

What are the fjords of Norway

The word fjord can be literally translated as bay. It is in Norway that their number is largest. If we take into account only the main fjords without branches, then there are 97 of them. And the most amazing thing is that each fjord has its own unforgettable landscape and its own history. Some of them are several tens of meters long, while others extend for tens of kilometers.

The appearance of fjords in Norway is due to 2 reasons:

  • As a result of tectonic movements of the earth's crust, the crust breaks and a fjord appears in its place.
  • After the Ice Age, ice floes began to melt, collecting and dragging huge boulders with them. As a result, the structure of the earth's surface changed and unique bays of Norway appeared.

To get acquainted with all the fjords, you need to travel around the country for several months, which is quite difficult. Therefore, you can see all the beauty of nature by visiting the most famous fjords. In order to find them, you need to travel along the roads leading from the cities of Bergen and Ålesund.

Unique for its size. Sognefjord honorably takes second place in the list of the largest fjords in the world. It is as much as 204 km long, and its maximum depth is 1308 meters. The fjord is located next to the city of Bergen.

The landscape of the fjord is very rich: these are majestic mountains with snow caps, endless meadows, and breathtaking waterfalls. Tourists can visit Sognefjord either by cruise ship or by walking or cycling.

Compared to the endless Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord seems quite small. After all, its length is only 20 km. But even despite its small size, it is still considered the most visited fjord by tourists.

Already in 2006, Geirangerfjord was included in the UNESCO list. Tourists can not only enjoy the scenic spot, but also go fishing, rafting and kayaking.

There is also a real threshold to heaven on this fjord, where the best views open up. The fjord's waterfalls also delight tourists.

And this fjord is considered the narrowest in Norway. The surrounding rocks seem to embrace the waters of the bay. According to legend, the fjord is named after the god Njord, who fell in love with this bay for its picturesque landscapes. God liked the sea fjord much more than the endless seas and oceans and he began to protect it.

Nærøyfjord is located 150 km from Bergen. Once you reach it, you can walk along the royal path, see a stunning panorama from the Stegastein observation deck and visit the real Viking village of Gudvangen.

The fjords of Norway, these majestic mountain bays, are a unique natural phenomenon that will not leave anyone indifferent. Let's try to find out why they are called the pearl of the country.

In the northern part of the west coast of Norway there are fjords that were formed during the last ice age. When the glacier retreated 10-12 thousand years ago, amazing Norwegian fjords, now famous all over the world. The word "fjord" means "bay" in Norwegian.


Each fjord has its own characteristics and attractions. Geirangerfjord is famous for the highest and most picturesque waterfalls. The majestic beauty of Geirangerfjord has been a major attraction on cruises for decades. Geirangerfjord is located approximately 200 kilometers northeast of Bergen and 280 kilometers northwest of Oslo. The fjord stretches for 15 kilometers and is a branch of the Storfjord.

Some of the fjord's attractions are the waterfalls, the most famous of which are the Seven Sisters, the Bridal Veil and the Groom.


Along the banks there are steep cliffs up to 1400 meters high and glaciers. There are also abandoned farms along the Geirangerfjord, some of which are located on small areas of mountain ledges, so it is only possible to reach them using special ladders or rope ladders.


Sognefjord is the longest fjord in the world. This bay, which in Norway is also called the “King of the Fjords,” is located in the territory of Sogn og Fjordane. It stretches 204 km inland and 1308 m to the depths of the sea.


Along the entire perimeter of the fjord there are inaccessible cliffs, and if you go deeper into the surrounding areas, you will encounter beautiful waterfalls and cultural monuments along the way.


The formation of Sognefjord began 2.57 million years ago during the Pliocene period. As a result of erosion caused by the convergence of glaciers, the river system turned into a fjord. At the same time, 7,610 km were destroyed? rocks over the entire area of ​​the Sognefjord basin, which today amounts to 12,518 km?. The average deepening caused by erosion was 610 meters, and the maximum (in the eastern part) was 2850 meters. Annual erosion rates have reached 2 mm per year.


Trondheimsfjord is the third longest fjord in Norway. Located in western central Norway and stretches from Ørland in the west to Steinkjer in the north.


On the banks of the Trondheimsfjord lies the city of Trondheim, after which the fjord is named.


The deepest point of the fjord is 617 meters, located in the municipality of Agdanes. The largest islands of the fjord are Ytterøy (28 km) and Toutra (1.5 km). Trondheimsfjord was an important sea route back in Viking times and remains so today.


Hardangerfjord is best known for its surrounding area, where magnificent orchards bloom in spring. The fruit orchards of Hardangerfjord in May will make anyone believe in heaven on earth:) The fjord is surrounded by rocky mountains up to 1.5 km high, from which many magnificent waterfalls fall, in particular the 145 m high Vøringsfossen waterfall and Skjeggadals.

Hardangerfjord is divided into many smaller bays, including Kvinnherads, Granvin, Sør, Eid and Osa. Hardangerfjord juts out into the coast of the Scandinavian Peninsula for 113 km. It starts south of Bergen, near the island of Stur in the North Sea and extends to the Hardanger Plateau. The maximum depth is 891 m, at the entrance - 253 m. At the bottom of the Hardangerfjord lies the Trygg-class destroyer KNM Stegg, sunk on April 20, 1940 by a German ship.


Lysefjord is famous for the Preikestolen rock, where you can enjoy a magnificent view, and the bravest ones can go to the very edge of the rock, where the spectacle will take everyone’s breath away!


The length of the fjord is 42 km, the maximum depth is 422 meters. The fjord was formed under the influence of glaciers, and after the glacier retreated, the “giant crack” filled with water. This happened approximately 10,000 years ago. Lysefjord stretches from west to east for 42 km. The height of the vertical rock walls above the water reaches 1 km.


Due to the difficult terrain, there are only two settlements on the banks of the fjord - Lysebotn and Forsand. The depth of the fjord ranges from 13 meters - at the point where the fjord “empties” into the ocean near Stavanger, to more than 400 meters - in the area.


Nordfjord is the sixth longest fjord in Norway, its length is 106 kilometers.


Nordfjord, along with Sognefjord in the south and Storfjord in the north, is one of the three large fjords of central Norway. The maximum depth is 565 m, the maximum width is about 5 km.


The fjord has great tourism potential, in particular because it provides easy access to several tongues of the Jostedalsbreen glacier, the largest glacier in continental Europe.

Norway is a harsh and mysterious country; even the hard-to-pronounce names of its cities and natural sites can be puzzling and cause difficulties when preparing an independent trip. This article will help you get your bearings and figure out which cities in Norway are most convenient from which to make forays to the country’s most attractive and unique attraction – the fjords.

I’ll immediately make a reservation that, although there are examples of independent travel through the mountains and fjords using only public transport, due to the large distances and features of the Norwegian terrain, a car is the best and, I would say, the main means of transportation around the country by land ( plus in many places you have to cross by ferry). Another popular mode of transport in the country is the plane. Air services connect all major cities in Norway. In order to see the fjords, it is absolutely not necessary to fly through the Norwegian capital Oslo: you can buy connecting tickets through Europe to cities located close to one or another famous natural attraction (there are international airports in Bergen, Ålesund, Stavanger).

Tickets for domestic flights in Norway operated by the budget carrier Norwegian airlines are relatively inexpensive (except for additional costs for baggage, which, like all low-cost airlines, is paid separately, and meals on board).

You can pre-select a rental car for traveling around Norway and pick it up right at the airport of arrival here

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Fjords– sea bays formed as a result of tectonic shifts and “cutting” the land area for tens and even hundreds of kilometers (the longest fjord in the world - Scoresby - is located in Greenland and stretches for more than 350 kilometers, followed by its Norwegian “brother” - Sognefjord 204 kilometers).

The number of fjords in Norway and the Svalbard archipelago is huge and amounts to about 1200. The length of most Norwegian fjords is from 4 to 50 kilometers, but there are also real giants - from a hundred kilometers or more. At the same time, naturally, their beauty does not depend on size, for example, the most famous fjord in the world, Geiranger, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, is only 15 kilometers long. As you can see, it is impossible to physically cover all the fjords, so you have to select only a few of them.

The most famous and popular fjords in Norway are:

Geirangerfjord, Lysefjord, Hardangerfjord, Trondheimsfjord, Sognefjord, Nærøyfjord, Aurlandsfjord, Nordfjord.

They are concentrated on the west coast of Norway (see map) https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zpmSSUsmrIho.ks9dZ3QlvhcA

City of Trondheim - The third largest city in Norway, located on the shores of the Trondheim Fjord. Sights: Trondheims Fjord (the third longest in the country), the medieval Nidaros Cathedral - a landmark cathedral for Norwegian history, where the legendary King Olaf II (St. Olaf) is buried, the oldest coronation site of Norwegian monarchs.

City of Kristiansund(Kristiansund) – (not to be confused with Kristiansand, located in southern Norway!) – Atlantic Road, Mountain road Aurshoevegen, Trollheimen(home of the trolls) – a mountain range with picturesque valleys.

The Atlantic Road is one of Norway's popular attractions, located between the cities of Kristiansund and Molde. This is an 8-kilometer section of the National Tourist Road 64, which passes through islets in the Atlantic Ocean. In some places the road is shaped like a wave, offering postcard views - both in good weather and during a storm on the Atlantic. There are several viewing platforms where you can park your car, admire the views and take photographs.

City of Molde(Molde) – mountain road Trollstigen(Troll Staircase), Romsdal And Atlantic Road.

Troll staircase

City of Ålesund(Alesund) is a beautiful Art Nouveau city located on seven hills. Attractions: Geirangerfjord And Jorundfjord, bird island Runde, Road of Eagles(mountain serpentine between Geirangerfjord and Norddalsfjord) and the already mentioned Troll Staircase Trollstigen.

Ålesund

Geirangerfjord

City of Bergen(Bergen) - Norway's second largest city is called the “gateway to the kingdom of the fjords.” From here you can go to Norway's longest fjord - Sognefjord, its branches - Nærøyfjord And Aurlandsfjord, Hardangerfjord(second largest in the country), drive along Flåm railway. In the city itself there is a UNESCO World Heritage Site - a beautiful Bryggen embankment, as well as the house-museum of the famous Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

Embankment in Bergen

Sognefjord

City of Haugesund(Haugesund) – impressive Lysefjord and small Okrafjord.

Lysefjord

City of Stavanger(Stavanger) – Lysefjord, Pulpit (Preikestolen)– a giant flat cliff above the Lysefjord, route Rüflüke(waterfalls road), Sulastranden beach.

Preikestolen

When to go see the fjords?

The best time to travel around Norway to the fjords is from June to mid-August (or, in extreme cases, from May to September), this is due to the harsh climate of the country. During the rest of the year, it is better to devote time to exploring only Norwegian cities.

It’s worth starting with the question of what the fjords of Norway are, and let’s clarify a little the meaning of the phrase fjords of Norway. Many tourists travel to Norway. The fjords of Norway are narrow, deep and winding sea bays with rocky shores that cut deep into the land.

The fjords of Norway are caused by a sharp and sudden change in the direction of movement of tectonic plates. Experienced tourists are well aware that Norway is a country of fjords.

During the Ice Age, deep valleys and narrow bays filled with ocean water, our planet creates such wonderful creations as the fjords in Norway. There are many fjords on earth, but those that adorn the coast of Norway differ from the rest in their picturesqueness and beauty.

Hundreds of tourists a year visit Norway to visit these beautiful places. And in this case, any tourist should take advantage of tours around the fjords of Norway. The mountains, local villages located around the fjords offer many incredible places to visit. We will learn about this from our list of the five most popular and beautiful fjords in Norway.

1. Nordfjord

This fjord in Norway is located in the western part of the country. It is known for its perfect combination of incredible landscapes and historical sites, and of course the wide range of events it hosts.

Regardless of the time of year, Nordfjord offers cruises around the fjord itself. In addition, visitors can choose from Norway's fjord tours, which include mountain excursions, fishing, water skiing and rafting.

In winter, visitors can enjoy skiing on the slopes and glaciers. You can also explore the surrounding islands, mountains and forests on hiking trips, and see local attractions such as beautiful waterfalls, the ruins of a 12th-century monastery and the highest point in Norway, where visitors can enjoy stunning views of glacial formations.

2. Hardangerfjord

Hardanger Fjord is the third largest fjord in the world. It is often called the garden of Norway. And this is because it is replete with many colorful fruit tree gardens. Many travelers plan their trip during May in order to see the blossoming of apple, pear, cherry and plum trees.

In addition to boating and kayaking around the magnificent fjord, visitors can take advantage of cycling routes to enjoy a number of natural wonders.

These include Norway's spectacular waterfalls, one of the most popular being the Verringsfossen waterfall. And be sure to visit natural glacial formations such as Folgefona and Troltunga.

3. Lyse fjord

Although this fjord is smaller than the others in size, it attracts about 300,000 visitors a year. Preikestolen, or “Pulpit Rock,” makes Lysefjord very attractive to tourists. Preikestolen is a gigantic cliff, 604 m high.

This fjord is known for its incredible views and photo spots. The Lysefjord area includes several historical sites that are impressive for their prehistoric carvings. Whose age begins from the sixth century BC. And in Ryfylka, visitors can see a reconstructed prehistoric settlement.

4. Norway Sognefjord

Being Norway's largest fjord, Sognefjord is full of adventure and fun for days. The tour includes visits to Norway's oldest stave church in Urnes, the Viking village of Gudvangen, the white cave of Gudvangen, the Aurland Valley, often called the Norwegian Grand Canyon due to its spectacular beauty and diversity of wildlife.

Sognefjord offers a wide range of holiday options. This includes riding the steepest railway in the world, through snow-capped mountains and cascading waterfalls. Other activities include hiking along scenic trails and traveling to interesting places such as Nærøy, a wild and beautiful place in the Sognefjord.

5. Geirangerfjord Norway

With the wonderful and amazing sights of deep blue waters and majestic mountains in Geirangerfjord in Norway, it is no wonder that the fjord is one of the most visited. While spending your holiday here, be sure to take time to visit the amazing beauty of the famous waterfalls.

This is the Seven Sisters waterfall. Other types of recreation also abound here, such as skiing in winter, excellent fishing, canoeing and rafting, and hiking in famous places that represent Norway from its most interesting sides.

In conclusion, I would like to add some information for tourists who are full of strength and energy to travel through the fjords of Norway. You must remember that Norway is a country of fjords and trolls. And if the opportunity allows you to relax in such picturesque places in Europe, then feel free to take advantage of the moment. After all, such places in the world are very rare and beautiful precisely because of their pristine beauty.

Good luck to everyone in conquering Norway!

Videos fjords of Norway

 

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