What are fjords? Fjords in Norway. The fjords of Norway are the most beautiful mountain bays. Which country has fjords?
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 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.
Fjord- a narrow and winding bay with rocky shores. Most fjords are of tectonic origin and are the result of plate movements. Many of them were formed due to the melting of the glacier. Typically, the length of a fjord is many times greater than its width. Today fjords can be seen in countries such as Greenland, Norway, Russia, USA, New Zealand. Most fjords are located in Norway. Norway is a country of fjords, here you can tour such fjords as: Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord, Trondheimsfjord and Nordfjord. I will tell you about my journey through one of the fjords - Sognefjord.
Sognefjord is the second largest fjord in the world and the first in Europe. Its length reaches 204 km, and its depth is 1308 meters. This is one of the most picturesque fjords. You can get to it in several ways; I started my journey from the city of Bergen. On the site http://www.fjordtours.no/ There are several options for fjord tours. All of them are carefully organized, and the routes are planned in such a way that the road is comfortable for tourists. It is worth noting that tickets for the tour are not cheap. The tour can be booked in advance by paying for it online, or you can purchase it at the ticket office at the station before departure. I chose the first method, since I prefer to do everything in advance, and I was not mistaken. Before the tour departed, there was a decent queue of people at the ticket office. Despite this, they all managed to buy tickets and went on a trip with us.
For my trip, I chose the “Norway in a nutshell” tour. The tour is a road to the Sognefjord which you get to first by train, then along the legendary Flåm railway, after that you transfer to a ferry, and at the final stage a bus picks you up and takes you to the train station, from where you return to Bergen again by train. The entire tour takes a full day and lasts from 8 am to 7 pm. It’s worth saying right away that this tour differs from the usual excursion in our understanding: there are no guides here, no one will wait for you and guide you. When purchasing a tour, you receive a set of tickets for all types of transport that you will use during the trip.
The path starts from the railway station.
From here, tourists travel by train to the hill station of Mirdle. It is worth considering that there is no separate train for tourists. The train is a regular passenger train and goes to Oslo (with all stops), so listen carefully to the announcements about stops so as not to miss yours. The train is very comfortable, somewhat reminiscent of the Russian Sapsan. This is where our journey begins. The road passes through picturesque landscapes. Due to the complexity of the landscape, many sections of the railway tracks are laid along cliffs. Looking out the window, you can see a steep cliff below you. Small villages, separate from large cities near turbulent rivers, impress tourists with their unusual location. You won't find this in Russia! The train passes through long tunnels. The whole journey to Mirdle takes about 2 hours, but this time flies by very quickly.
Lonely houses on the way to Myrdle station
Mirdle is a mountain transfer station. There is a small town here, which is located 867 meters above sea level. The famous Flåm Railway starts from here. What is she famous for? I'll tell you further.
Once you get off the train, you'll have a few minutes to take photos of the views before heading on your way. Usually, another train will already be waiting for you at the station, which will take you further. There are no fixed seats on the Flåm Railway, so sit in a position where you can see everything. Entering the train, you are immediately amazed by its interior appearance. It resembles trains from the distant past: simple seats, large windows, red interior. Without unnecessary amenities, but at the same time very comfortable.
The Flåm Railway is considered the most scenic road in Europe. Its route passes over mountains, villages and waterfalls. This railway was built over 20 years. Its length is more than 20 km and runs through 20 tunnels. The entire road goes along steep cliffs and rises 863 meters up. This is the art of engineering. All tunnels here are cut by hand.
During the trip, the train makes a stop near the Sjösfossen waterfall. Here you can go out and admire the beautiful view.
Also, the train route runs past another waterfall - Rjaanderfossen, whose height is 140 meters and past the Flåm Church, built in 1667.
The path ends in the Flåm valley on the shores of the Aurladsfjord, from where we will sail along the Sagnanfjord by ferry. Here tourists are given several hours to walk around the area, admire the views, go to the available shops and have a snack.
Houses in the Flåm Valley
Big "land" in the Flåm Valley
In the valley there is a small village of several houses, a grocery store, a souvenir shop, several hotels with restaurants and the Flåm Railway Museum, which is free. The museum itself is small, but worth a visit.
Flam Railway Museum
After some time, all tourists are invited to board the ferry, which is operated by two experienced sailors of venerable age.
The ferry on which tourists travel along the fjord
The ferry begins its journey along the Aurladsfjord, which then passes into Nareifjord. These two fjords are branches of the famous Sognanfjord. On both sides you can see huge rocks covered with lush vegetation. Many rocks are cut by mountain streams, falling down with great speed and noise.
At the foot of the fjord there are small villages and detached houses, and numerous herds of sheep graze on the gentle slopes. It is worth noting that here you immediately remember that sheep are the traditional occupation of the Norwegians. They make warm clothes from sheep's wool, use milk to make cheese, and eat meat.
Small villages located right on the fjords
Local residents have mountain views from their windows
Every new turn reveals an absolutely magnificent view: green peaks give way to white, snow-strewn peaks. At such moments you begin to understand how high these mountains are compared to humans!
Many Norwegians travel this route by boat.
After a two-hour walk along the fjord, the ferry brings us to a small village - Gudvingen. From here our journey will continue by bus. Tourists have some time to explore the village and check out the local shops. What’s interesting is that the entire village is made in the form of a Viking village: small houses with green roofs, cafes with carved chairs.
In the village you can find many reminders of the Vikings
In addition to the store, in the village there is also a small hotel with 5-6 rooms. In the rooms you will find a large bed covered with animal skins. There is no one else in the village except tourists who arrived by ferry and local residents who service all the buildings. There is peace and quiet here. It is in this corner that you can feel unity with nature.
After a short rest, we are picked up by a comfortable bus, which takes tourists along the serpentine road up to the railway station in the village of Voss, from where the train departs for Bergen. The journey by bus takes no more than half an hour and passes along local villages.
The last leg of the journey is by train. You return again to the Bergen railway station, where you started your journey.
The trip leaves a lot of impressions. I visited the fjords at the end of October, the weather was cool, I had to wear a thick sweater, jacket and hat. In autumn, the fjords are even more beautiful: a riot of yellow, red, green colors creates the feeling of a fairy tale.
The sun is a rare guest here
By purchasing a comprehensive ticket, you will not have to pay any more fares throughout your journey. Of course, you can purchase all tickets separately; at each section of the route there are ticket offices where you can buy the necessary ticket, for example for a ferry or bus. But it is much more convenient to purchase all the tickets at once and not worry about it anymore. There were no problems with transfers; all routes ended where another section of the route immediately began. It is extremely difficult to get lost with such an organization.
There are many routes to the fjords. For example, large catamarans depart directly from Bergen to the fjords daily. These catamarans sail through the night and make a longer route. However, you will not be able to visit the Flåm Railway and admire its views. But I think you will get no less impressions.
It seems that there is a dead end ahead. But around the corner new views open up
When visiting Norway, you should definitely set aside one day to see the magnificent and picturesque fjords!
Every fjord, no matter where in the world it is located, is beautiful in its own way. But we can highlight the most breathtaking landscapes that will not leave anyone indifferent.
Golden autumn in Hørundfjord
Hørundfjord is located among the mountain peaks and is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful in the world. In the autumn months, when you can admire a real golden autumn, cruise ships sail to the shores on a voyage called “The Most Beautiful in the World”.
It is at this time that the bay is especially beautiful. Hørundfjord is, first and foremost, a classic of the Norwegian landscape. In addition, it left its mark on history as the place where German Emperor Wilhelm II landed on a visit to Norway.
The silent fjord of Milford Sound
One of the most beautiful is located in. Its banks are so steep that any human settlements in this place are simply impossible. For this reason, no human has ever set foot in the bay, and it is here that you can enjoy the true pristine beauty of nature. The ringing silence is sometimes broken only by the sounds of waterfalls reaching 300 meters in height.
In the Milford Sound fjord, sea waters mix with lake waters, which creates a unique ecosystem inhabited by unusual fauna. While exploring the underwater world of the bay, you can see unique black corals. The magical beauty of this place is given by the changing weather lighting: the rays of the sun quickly replace the clouds, the falling rain turns into a bright rainbow. Milford Sound is listed by UNESCO as a natural wonder of the world.
Giant Scandinavian fjord Scoresby
The longest and deepest fjord in the world is located in Greenland. It is named after the Scottish whalers who discovered it in 1822. The Scandinavian giant has a gloomy atmosphere created by gray rough rocks. But at the same time, they are set off by snow-white glaciers and icebergs, which form bizarre arches and towers.
Crystal clear ice breaks off from the main glacier and sets off on a long voyage. All this creates an incredibly mesmerizing view. The fjord has a rich fauna, the waters abound with fish, and huge colonies of birds stop on the shores of the bay every year.
Ice-free Kola Bay
The most famous fjord in is undoubtedly the Kola Bay. Steep cliffs form descents to the water, similar to steps or peculiar terraces. The fjord has a special feature - the water in the bay almost never freezes even at low temperatures.
Over the past 100 years, the bay has frozen only five times. This is explained by the presence of a warm underwater current. The bay forms several bends, around which many islands are scattered. The Kola Fjord is all broken up by bays and bays, one of which houses an ice-free military port.
The bright colors of the Misty Fjords
The bays of the Misty Fjords are so narrow that you can only sail through them by motor boats or admire them from the air. In a remote corner of southeastern Alaska, there are eternal fogs, which, however, does not interfere with admiring this untouched corner of nature.
Mysterious, silent bays seem to be painted in watercolors in the rich green color of rain forests with white strokes in the form of fog. The Tongass National Forest covers the misty fjords with a thick carpet. Crystal clear lakes and waterfalls give the landscape an extremely breathtaking view.
Hospitable Lysefjord
Lysefjord is one of the most attractive places for tourists due to its accessibility. Unlike most similar natural sites, it has settlements on its territory where you can stop and get the necessary information about the routes.
Lysefjord has a huge number of interesting objects. In the bay there is a 400-meter waterfall, under whose jets ships swim. The 640 meter long suspension bridge is also a local landmark. From certain points of the fjord you can admire flocks of seals. In addition, thousands of tourists every year climb the fjord with equipment to stand on the huge Kjöragbolt boulder, stuck between two rocks.
Amazing country. It is impossible to gaze at its majestic nature without aspiration. In winter it is reserved and harsh, and in the short northern summer it blooms with pure and rich emerald colors. The Norwegian fjords can be considered a national treasure of the country. These are picturesque sea bays, cutting into the rocky coast and extending inland for tens of kilometers. Millions of tourists come to see them every year. The best angle is from the water.
During a boat trip, a breathtaking view of the steep slopes from which waterfalls cascade opens up. At first, the traveler is surrounded by green hills and mountains, but gradually snow-covered peaks appear on the horizon. In a word, the spectacle is unforgettable.
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Which fjords are worth visiting?
There are thousands of fjords in Norway; they dot the entire western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. But they visit mainly the ten most famous and most accessible ones, among which everyone knows the Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Hardangerfjord and Lysefjord. Of course, the infrastructure around the bays is well developed. They are easily accessible by transport from nearby cities; in the fishing villages on the banks there are comfortable hotels and restaurants. If a tourist wants to see all this beauty from the water, then ferries, pleasure ships and even cruise ships are at his service. On land there are observation platforms where highways lead.
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Fjord tours and excursions
Organized Norwegian fjord tours mostly start from Oslo. Agencies have different programs, but most often they involve inspecting bays both from water and from land. The cost of travel for 6-7 days is from 1000 EUR per person (excluding travel to Oslo, plane tickets must be paid for independently). This amount also includes breakfast. If you take a ferry from St. Petersburg, it will be cheaper - from 300 EUR per person. But this fee is only for accommodation in 2-3-bed cabins, transfers between cities/towns by bus and basic excursion services.
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Independent visit
Independent travelers will have to use public transport. This almost always involves several transplants. For example, to see the Preikestolen rock and get to
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 an amazing land of 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* - for some reason this family hotel is loved by 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, kayaking along the cliffs and waterfalls of Geiranger is a good idea.
- 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 at the Ornesvingen observation deck. 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, clean air, slight chill and a lot of stones - everything I love.
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€.
