Will I ever get a grip on understanding Norway’s fjords? My friend just returned from a fjord cruise and her explanation was interesting but left me with many questions about these amazing natural coastal structures. A little research doesn’t mean I’d be confident to explain them – given the language I’d need tutoring to master! But this is a summary of what I found out.
There are four Fjord counties: Rogaland is the southernmost of the four fjord counties with ten cities including Stavanger, Sandnes, Egersund and Haugesund, Hordaland County is located in the centre of Western Norway. Bergen, Voss, Stord and Odda are the four cities in Hordaland. Sogn og Fjordane has the longest fjord and the largest icecap, whilst Møre og Romsdal is the northernmost county in Western Norway.
The Sognefjord consists of the main fjord and several branches, and the famous Flam Railways takes visitors from the Myrdal mountain station through the spectacular Flam Valley.
The Hardangerfjord – the Queen of the fjords – is to the south east of Bergen, and is surrounded by mountains, the Folgefonna glacier wonderful fjord villages and orchards.
The Geirangerfjord is a World Heritage Site makes its way from the coast and the town of Alesund to the fjord village of Geiranger, with spectacular waterfalls and small mountain farms on the mountain sides. Try the Golden Route with its hairpin bends to get a wonderful view of the Geirangerfjord.
The Nordfjord is located between the Geirangerfjord and the Sognefjord. If you are lucky enough to be able to drive along the shore of the Nordfjord you never forget it and the Utvik mountain road also give just stunning views of the fjord below. From the fjord village of Olden you can follow the beautiful Briksdal towards the Briksdal glacier and lake.
