Fjords of Norway: Complex origin of a scenic landscape

Abstract

Norway has been called the 'Land of fjords'. This is easily envisaged when studying a map or satellite image of Scandinavia. Norway is characterised by a rugged, highly dissected coast with numerous islands, skerries, sounds, and fjords. Along the Norwegian coast there are some 200 principal fjords. Norway has a passive-margin coast and the coastline of Norway spans 13°of latitude (58-71°N) and 26° of longitude (4.5-31°E). Geirangerfjorden and Næroyfjorden in western Norway were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. These fjords are some of the longest, deepest, narrowest, and most beautiful fjords and they are therefore considered to be the prime symbol of Norway, and among the most spectacular fjord landscapes anywhere in the world. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.