Geirangerfjord

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West Norwegian Fjords - Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Geirangerfjord
State Party Flag of Norway Norway
Type Natural
Criteria vii, viii
Reference 1195
Region† Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 2005  (29th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
† Region as classified by UNESCO.

The Geirangerfjord (Geirangerfjorden) is a fjord in the Sunnmøre region, located in the southernmost part of the county Møre og Romsdal in Norway. It is a 15km long branch of the Storfjord (Great Fjord). At the head in the fjord lies the small village of Geiranger.

The fjord is one of Norway's most visited tourist sites and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, jointly with Nærøyfjord, since 2005, although this status is now threatened by the disputed plans to build power lines across the fjord.[1]

The Geirangerfjord is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset which is about to erode into the fjord. A collapse would produce a tsunami, hitting several nearby towns including Geiranger and Hellesylt in about ten minutes.[2][3][4]

Along the fjord's sides there lie a number of now abandoned farms. Some restoration has been made by the 'Storfjordens venner' association (see external link below). The most commonly visited among these are Skageflå, Knivsflå, and Blomberg. Skageflå may also be reached on foot from Geiranger, while the others require a boat excursion. The fjord is also host to several impressive waterfalls.

A car ferry, which doubles as a sightseeing trip, is operated by Fjord1. It runs lengthwise along the fjord between the towns of Geiranger and Hellesylt.

Contents

[edit] Waterfalls

The Seven Sisters (left) and the Suitor (right).
The Seven Sisters (left) and the Suitor (right).

The two most notable waterfalls in the Geirangerfjord are the Seven Sisters and the Suitor (also called 'the Wooer'). The two falls face one another across the fjord, and the Suitor is said to be trying to woo the sisters opposite.

The Bridal Veil is another waterfall in the fjord, so named because it falls delicately over one rocky edge, and when seen backlit by the sun it has the appearance of a thin veil over the rocks.

[edit] Gallery

The sight-seeing boat

Inner part of Geirangerfjord

The Seven Sisters waterfall in the Geirangerfjord

An old postcard showing the Seven Sisters

[edit] External links


v • d • e
World Heritage Sites in Norway

Bryggen · Rock Art of Alta · Røros Mining Town · Struve Geodetic Arc (with nine other countries) · Urnes Stave Church · Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago · West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord
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Coordinates: 62°07′N, 6°59′E

[edit] References

  1. ^ Geirangerfjorden kan miste verdensarvstatus, Bergens Tidende, July 6, 2007, retrieved July 7, 2007 (Norwegian)
  2. ^ Gigantras truer vestlandsbygder, Aftenposten, Nov 14 2004, retrieved July 7, 2007 (Norwegian)
  3. ^ Økt fare for fjellskred i Åkersneset, forskning.no, Apr 22, 2004, retrieved July 7, 2007 (Norwegian)
  4. ^ High Resolution Digital Elevation Model Analysis for Landslide Hazard Assessment (Åkerneset, Norway)