Norway is an amazing and unforgettable country. It was here that the brave and fearless Vikings were born, not afraid of snow, cold or ice. But tourists are attracted to this country not only by the spellbinding castles and sights. The fjords of Norway are a place where you can feel a unique unity with nature.
What are the fjords of Norway
The word fjord can be literally translated as a bay. It is in Norway that their number is the 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, a break in the crust occurs and a fjord appears in its place.
- After the ice age, ice floes began to come down, collecting and dragging huge boulders with them. As a result, the structure of the earth's surface changed and the unique bays of Norway appeared.
To get to know 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 of the fjords. In order to find them, you need to hit the road along the roads leading from the cities of Bergen and Alesund.
Sognefjord
It is unique for its size. Sognefjord is honorably ranked second in the list of the largest fjords in the world. It is as long as 204 km, and the maximum depth is 1308 meters. The fjord is located near the city of Bergen.
The landscape of the fjord is very rich: it is majestic mountains with snow caps, and endless meadows, and breathtaking waterfalls. Tourists can visit the Sognefjord either by cruise ship or by walking or cycling.
Geirangerfjord
Compared to the endless Sognefjord, the Geirangerfjord seems quite small. After all, its length is all 20 km. But even despite its small size, it is still considered the most visited fjord by tourists.
Already in 2006, the Geirangerfjord was included in the UNESCO list. Tourists can not only enjoy the scenic spot, but also fish, rafting and kayaking.
There is also a real threshold to heaven on this fjord, where the best view opens. Fjord waterfalls also delight tourists.
Nareufjord
And this fjord is considered the narrowest in Norway. The rocks surrounding it 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.
Nareufjord is located 150 km from Bergen. Once you reach it, you can walk along the royal trail, see a stunning panorama from the Stegastein observation deck and visit the real Viking village - Gudvangen.
