Fjords: Formation and Examples

Short: Fjords are long, narrow sea inlets carved into the mainland by glaciers during the ice ages. After the glaciers melted, seawater filled the deep valleys that had formed.

In more detail: The characteristic steep rock walls and often enormous water depth clearly distinguish fjords from ordinary river mouths or bays.

In detail

• Glacial erosion: Flowing glaciers carved deep, U-shaped valleys into the rock over millennia, which were flooded after melting.
• Norway as the main example: The Norwegian coast, with over a thousand fjords, is considered one of the most famous fjord landscapes in the world.
• Extreme depths: Some fjords reach water depths of several hundred meters, often deeper than the adjacent open sea.
• Sills at the entrance: Many fjords have a shallower sill at the entrance, formed by leftover glacial sediments.
• Other known regions: Besides Norway, significant fjords are also found in Chile, New Zealand, Alaska, and Greenland.
• Ecological features: The sheltered location and special water stratification create unique habitats for fish and marine mammals.
• Tourist significance: The dramatic landscape makes fjords popular travel destinations, with cruises being one of the most common ways to visit (gletscher-und-eiszeiten, inseln-und-archipele).