Destinations Menu
RSS
NORWAY | The Fjord Region, Norway Travel Guide
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The Fjord Region, Norway
Hardangerfjord, as seen from the settlement of Odda, Norway (cc)
Photo: JePe
Norway's Fjord Region
The fjords in Norway were created during the latest Ice Age when the layer of ice, which was three km (1.8 mile) thick, cut deep incisions in the earth’s crust. Fjords are found all along the coastline in Norway but the majority are in the four western counties of Møre and Romsdal, Sogn and Fjordane, Hordaland and Rogaland.
The four major fjords in this region are Hardangerfjord, Sognefjord, Nordfjord and Geirangerfjord. Sognefjord is the longest and also the deepest of the Norwegian fjords; some parts of it have been measured as deep as 1,300m(4,000 feet). Geirangerfjord has some of the most spectacular waterfalls found anywhere in the world. Hardangerfjord is known for its flowers and fruit orchards in the springtime.
A Bit of History of Norway's Fjord Region
The west coast of Norway had been frequently visited for centuries, starting when Bergen became an important port for the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages. The merchants in those days were mostly just interested in business and it wasn’t until the 19th century that visitors to the west coast started venturing inland and discovered the fjords. Gradually, the fjord region became more and more popular and the British were particularly keen on traveling across the North Sea to enjoy this unique environment. Before long, organized boat trips were introduced and people from all over Europe followed in the Brits’ footsteps. In those days, by the end of the 19th century, it was only the wealthy who could afford such trips and royals in particular were intrigued by this newly discovered destination. The German emperor Wilhelm II was so impressed by his first visit to the fjords that he came back almost every year after that. Kings and queens from all over Europe and even the Far East also made western Norway one of their favorite getaways.
Last updated January 10, 2011
Posted in Norway | The Fjord Region
Explore the Destination
Amenities and Resources
Overview
Hotels(8)
Restaurants(2)
Attractions(2)
Activities(7)
Weather Forecast
- Reported on:
Wed, 12/11/2024 - 23:20
- Reported on:
Trending Themes:
Guides to Popular Ski Resorts
-
Ischgl is a small mountain village turned hip ski resort, with massive appeal among the party-hearty young crowds. It is... Read More
-
Andorra la Vella is its own little world, and not just because it’s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the... Read More
-
Bariloche (officially San Carlos de Bariloche) is the place to be seen. It is to Argentina what Aspen is to the... Read More
-
Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. And that's an understatement. For, as a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its... Read More
-
Zermatt is a small but glamorous mountain resort town, with a population of approximately 5,700. It is one of Switzerland's... Read More
-
St. Moritz is a glitzy, alpine resort town in the celebrated Engadin Valley of Switzerland, with huge notoriety as the... Read More
-
Lake Tahoe is the premier lake resort of America, and the largest alpine lake in all of North America. It is an absolutely... Read More
-
St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! It's actually a small village cum... Read More
-
Kitzbühel, a small, Tyrolian resort town in the Kitzbüheler Alps, comes with international renown and huge snob appeal, and... Read More