What is special about Geirangerfjord?
That’s the Geirangerfjord for you. Not only is the fjord lined by some of the steepest cliffs on the west coast of Norway, it’s also incredibly narrow and basically has no shoreline, giving it an even wilder feel than most other fjords. The waterfalls on the fjord are some of the most famous in Norway, too.
How was Geirangerfjord formed?
Fjords were created by glaciers. In the Earth’s last ice age, glaciers covered just about everything. Glaciers move very slowly over time, and can greatly alter the landscape once they have moved through an area. This process is called glaciation.
What is unique about Norwegian fjords?
The fjords were created when the weight of huge glaciers carved out valleys over time. This leaves behind valleys that were subsequently flooded by sea water. What is this? The long, narrow inlets of water and steep-sided mountain faces create one of the finest and natural wonders not just in Norway but the world.
Where is Geirangerfjord located?
Norway
The Geiranger Fjord (Norwegian: Geirangerfjorden) is a fjord in the Sunnmøre region of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located entirely in the Stranda Municipality….Geirangerfjord.
| Geirangerfjorden | |
|---|---|
| Settlements | Geiranger |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | West Norwegian Fjords: Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord |
| Type | Natural |
How do I get to geirangerfjord?
In the high season, there is a stop in Geiranger and during the off-season, you’ll go to the town of Ålesund, where you can take a bus directly to Geiranger. Taking the train is convenient and easy with departures a few times a day. Travel time from Bergen to Ålesund is around five and a half hours.
How deep are the Norwegian fjords?
4,290 feet
Many fjords are astonishingly deep; Sogn Fjord in Norway is 1,308 m (4,290 feet) deep, and Canal Messier in Chile is 1,270 m (4,167 feet). The great depth of these submerged valleys, extending thousands of feet below sea level, is compatible only with a glacial origin.
What type of rock is geirangerfjord?
Gneiss
In Geirangerfjord these are Precambrian gneisses of the West Gneiss Region, a world-class example of deeply subducted continental crust and of well preserved high-pressure rocks. In Geirangerfjord there are outcrops of peridotite and serpentinite in the predominant gneiss bedrock.
How are fjords useful?
Fjords are technically estuaries: places where land streams meet marine ocean. These regions serve as important transition areas between the land and sea environments and provide habitat not only for humans (e.g., sea ports, tourism, and aquaculture), but also for a variety of wildlife.
Do fjords flood?
Such valleys are fjords when flooded by the ocean. Thresholds above sea level create freshwater lakes. Glacial melting is accompanied by the rebounding of Earth’s crust as the ice load and eroded sediment is removed (also called isostasy or glacial rebound). In some cases this rebound is faster than sea level rise.
Why is Geirangerfjord important to Norway?
The iconic Geirangerfjord is considered one of the most beautiful fjords in the world, and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage list together with the Nærøyfjord. The fjord is also known for its spectacular waterfalls and deserted fjord farms high up on the steep cliffsides.