Fjords of Norway

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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.

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Fjords of Norway -

how to see them

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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.

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Hiking

Trails lead to lofty vantages that boat passengers miss. The paths vary from short and easy to long and challenging.

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Flightseeing

Board an airplane or helicopter sightseeing flight out of Bergen, the gateway city to the Fjords of Norway.

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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.

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Fjords of Norway -

the best known

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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More insights

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Creation

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.

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Gulf Stream influence

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.

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Measurements

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.

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Shoreline length

Norway is a land of fjords, inlets, bays and islands. If you stretched out its coastline, it would reach half way around the world.

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