The Geirangerfjord, forms part of a very complicated and detailed fjord system in Norway, spanning more than 500 Km. It is the most beautiful and scenic fjord in a region which is itself considered to be fairy-tale with divine natural beauty. The Geiranger fjord is a branch of Storfjorden fjord and is about 15 Km in length in the More og Romsdal county of Norway. Geiranger village is situated at the end of the fjord.
- Things to know:
- What is it – You can simply call it the most beautiful fjord in the world.
- Best season to visit – Between May and September
- Nearest town – Geiranger Village
- Things not be missed – The Golden Route tour featuring an incredible and scenic drive through the hairpin bends and past the Trollveggen, which is the tallest vertical rock face in Europe. Visit the cliffs of Runde – an island sanctuary to see more than half a million sea birds.
- How to get there? – Take a flight to Alesund airport from any of the major city in Norway. Then drive along the Orneveien to Geiranger Village.
- You should know – Geirangerfjord is one of Norway’s most visited tourist attractions, that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, due to plans about building power lines running across the fjord, this status is currently under threat.
- The West Norwegian Fjord system starts from Stavanger in the southern direction to Andalsnes, which is 500 km to the north-east. On the sides of the fjord are the walls of crystalline rocks with very steep sides rising to a height of 1400 m above the level of Norwegian Sea and extending 500 m below the sea level.
- The terrain in the region has been sculptured by the affect of glaciers to create some of the most incomparable scenery in the world. Fjord by definition is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier.
- The fjord also has a series of impressive waterfalls cascading down the sides of the ravine. The most famous waterfalls are known by the names of ‘de Syv Søstre’ or the Seven Sisters and the ‘Friaren’, also known as Suitor. These two waterfalls are facing each other as they are on the opposite sides of the fjord with the suitor being considered to be trying to woo the sisters.
- The Bride’s Veil is another waterfall, having derived its name due to the fact that when it is backlit by the sun, it gives the impression of a thin veil lying over the rocks.
- The scenery in the vicinity is simply breathtaking and comprising of mountains covered with snow, lakes originating from glaciers and forests all along the route taken by the river.
- As you travel along the fjord, you will find many abandoned dwellings, indicating the way, inhabitants of the region earned their living before the tourism boom. These lie in isolated lands and are surrounded by very steep slopes, accessible only through ladders from the boats.
- Probably, drawing up of ladders helped the farmers to avoid the taxman, as they relied on nature to protect them from the authorities.
