Publicatu: 02.10.2021
'Another picture with a lake or mountain?'
Yes, if you want to capture Norway in pictures, you can't avoid having fjords and lakes in them. Even if you google Norway, you will see mostly pictures of mountains and water. This particular combination has also captured our hearts.
But what exactly is a fjord?
A fjord is a narrow, long, deep sea inlet that extends far into the land and is surrounded by land on three sides.
The formation of the Norwegian fjords is a story of powerful elements and incredible natural forces that have been at work for a long time. The key to the formation of the Norwegian fjords is the countless glaciers that covered the land during the ice ages of the past 2.6 million years. The huge masses of ice, together with the melting water, slowly and evenly created deep valleys over thousands of years. These valleys cut through the mountains and were finally flooded by the sea as the glaciers melted at the end of the ice age, causing the sea level to rise.
Fjords are often deeper than the oceans into which they flow.
Most of them are particularly suitable as anchorages and moorings for ships due to their enclosed water surface.
In Norway, you can find the second and third longest fjords in the world: the Sognefjord (204 km) and the Hardangerfjord (179 km).
When you look up at the mountain peaks today, you can still sense the immense forces of nature that were at work here.
The majority of Norway's picturesque landscape has remained unchanged since the Vikings hoisted their sails and set off for distant shores.
By the way, there are over a thousand fjords in Norway.
(Sources: https://www.fjordnorway.com/things-to-do/nature-attractions/what-is-a-fjord, https://www.hurtigruten.com/norway/expedition-cruises/information-about-the-fjords/)
Of course, it is difficult to capture these natural forces in pictures, but when you find such a place and experience it live, you can only understand why it is so impressive and popular. So we can only recommend to see it for yourself! ❤