|
Why the Fjords of
Norway are special
Glaciers slowly carved the Fjords of Norway out of hard-rock coastal mountains.
The resulting narrow fjords are walled in by incredibly steep cliffs, verdant
slopes and snow-capped mountain tops.
To get a
sense of scale, note the boat in the photo. It may look like a modest yacht but
is a large ocean-going ship.
Fjords of Norway -
how to see them
 Boating
- Most visitors see the the Fjords of Norway in vessels ranging from small
sightseeing craft to luxury cruise ships. You can also travel on the frequent
ferries that link the semi isolated coastal towns. Boats give passengers an
awesome sea-level perspective.
Hiking
- Trails lead to lofty vantages that boat passengers miss. The paths vary from
short and easy to long and challenging.
Flightseeing
- Board an airplane or helicopter sightseeing flight out of Bergen, the gateway
city to the Fjords of Norway.
Railing
- The scenic mountain train trip from Bergen to Flam takes you to the upper
reaches of Aurlandsfjord. The railroad's leg between Flam and Myrdal is
especially scenic, with waterfalls and alpine like vistas.
Fjords of Norway -
the best known
Sognefjord
- If you have time to visit only one fjord, let it be Sognefjord, which is only
about 70 kilometers (45 miles) north of Bergen. It stretches 204 kilometers (125
miles) inland, has stunning fjordscapes, and boasts some picturesque villages.
One of its arms, Naeroyfjord, is a tourist favorite because of its narrowness and
skyscraping cliffs.
Geirangerfjord
- It is much farther north of Bergen (and is much shorter in length) than Sognefjord, but
is worth the journey. Many Norwegians consider it to be their country's most
beautiful fjord. It is blessed with many tall, cascading waterfalls (the Seven
Sisters is the most striking). Partially because of its significant depth, Geirangerfjord is a pet among
the large ocean going cruise ships.
Hardangerfjord
- Its fjordscape is dramatic, but less so than those of Sognefjord and
Geirangerfjord. However, its low lying farms, orchards, and grazing slopes lend
a lovely rural touch to the landscape.
Hardangerfjord is south of Bergen.
Lysefjorden
- It is famous for Pulpit Rock, an outlook with the grandest view in the Fjords
of Norway region. It requires a long uphill hike. Standing at the
edge of Pulpit Rock, you look 600 meters (2000 feet) straight down into a majestic fjord.
Lysefjorden lies south of Bergen.
More insights
It
took many ice ages in a 3 million year period for glaciers to carve the fjords
as we see them today. The most recent ice age ended about 10,000 years ago.
The
southern Fjords of Norway seldom freeze over because of the Gulf Stream, which
brings warm water across the Atlantic Ocean from the tropics of
the New World.
The
deepest point of the Fjords of Norway is 1300 meters (4300 feet) below sea
level. Widths can reach 3 kilometers (2 miles). Both records belong to Sognefjord.
Norway
is a land of fjords, inlets, bays and islands. If you stretched out its
coastline, it would reach half way around the world.
View my other top 100
Wonders of the World
 
|
