The Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord: Norwegian Wonderlands

Norway is home to more than 1,000 fjords, each a unique, intricate network of winding crescent-shaped inlets that meander through towering sheer cliffs. Molded over thousands of years by the tremendous forces of melting glacial ice, these magnificent fjords must be one of Mother Earth’s most glorious works of art. On July 14, 2005, two fjords in Western Norway became inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List: the Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord. As the listing states: “The two fjords, among the world’s longest and deepest, are considered as archetypical fjord landscapes and among the most scenically outstanding anywhere.’’ The Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord are situated in the Vestlandet region of southwestern Norway, which is notable for its prolific beauty and is a spectacular example of the phenomenal creative power of nature.