The Norwegian Fjords

A person riding a surfboard on top of a mountain

The Norwegian Fjords

UNESCO World Heritage Sites, named among the “Best unspoiled travel destinations in the World” and “Seven wonders of nature”. The Norwegian Fjords make an impression on everyone who visits them.

Cutting in from the sea, through steep mountains rising up to 2000 meters high, creating lush, fertile soil along the shore. Mild, salty waters up to 1300 meters deep. Passages so narrow that when the ship sails in, you can sometimes touch the mountainside with your fingertips up on deck.

The Norwegian Fjords have always given people memories for life - and temporary neck aches from gazing at the sights. For example, mountainside farms once accessible only by steep ladder trails, small villages, seals, porpoises, schools of fish swimming in the waters, with eagles and other birds looking down from above.

A fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated ocean inlet, cut into the landscape, with steep mountains on three sides. The fourth side, called the mouth of the fjord, is open towards the sea. The fjords were formed when the glaciers retreated and are a prominent feature if you travel through Norwegian coastal landscape – from Hurtigruten's southernmost port of Bergen all the way north to Kirkenes.

Photo: Paffy/Shutterstock and Trym Ivar Bergsmo

Seeing the Norwegian fjords

To many foreigners, Norway is synonymous with fjords. Norway has the highest concentration of them in the world, ranging from from the Oslo fjord in the southeast, all the way up to East Finnmark near the north-eastern Russian boarder.

However, the most famous fjords in Norway are found in the western coastal and northern regions. In the west for example, there are Geirangerfjord, Hjørundfjord and Nordfjord: recognized on UNESCO's World Heritage List, with their alpine mountains, waterfalls and lush villages full of fruit trees.

On your way to Trondheim, you can experience the Trondheimsfjord. Further north, the Trollfjord, only 100 meters at its narrowest point, is among the most fascinating fjords in the country.

The Geirangerfjord

The deep blue fjord is surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, wild waterfalls and lush, green vegetation. One of the reasons Geirangerfjord is UNESCO-protected is to preserve the way farmers live and work on its incredibly steep mountain slopes.

FACTS:

Location: West coast, in Stranda Municipality (Møre & Romsdal county)
Length: 15 kilometres
Best time to visit: June - August

Keep reading: The Geirangerfjord

The Hjørundfjord

Its seclusion and unspoiled natural landscape are what give this fjord its special character as it cuts into the massive Sunnmøre
Alps. Highlight of the fjord is seeing glaciers, alpine farms and small villages

FACTS:

Location: West coast, in Ørsta Municipality (Møre & Romsdal county)
Length: 35 kilometres
Best time to visit: September - October

Keep reading: The Hjørundfjord

The Trollfjord

A narrow fjord bordered by steep-sided mountains. The white-tailed sea eagle is one of the main attractions in the area. Between
May and October, you can join us as we sail in and turn around in this unique fjord, a truly memorable experience.

FACTS:

Location: In Lofoten and Vesterålen (Nordland county)
Length: 2.5 kilometres
Best time to visit: May - October

Keep reading: The Trollfjord

What is a fjord?

But what is a fjord? The fjords formed when the glaciers of the Ice Age retreated. Seawater rushed in to replace the ice, flooding the u-shaped valleys and creating the memorable geography we now see. Norway is fortunate enough to have a warm sea current running along its coastline. As a result, the fjords are virtually ice free – and ready to be explored.