Glaciers carve out these dramatic coastal landscapes

Fjords are long, narrow arms of the sea that often reach far inland. They are typically flanked by tall, steep cliffs on either side. Below water, their trenches often plunge much deeper than the open sea to which they connect.

Fjords are usually formed by glaciers. This sets them apart from other types of narrow valleys, or gorges. As glaciers slowly make their way to the ocean, they can carve deep channels through the terrain. These channels remain even after the glaciers have melted and filled with water, creating fjords.

These dramatic landscapes offer sweeping vistas of craggy cliffs and majestic mountains that inspire awe. Some scenes in The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed in the fjords of New Zealand. For instance, aerial shots showing the fictional River Anduin get their steep, forested terrains from Fiordland National Park.  

However, Norway holds the record for most fjords. It has more than 1,200. The largest is Sognefjord. This fjord stretches 205 kilometers (127 miles) inland. Steep mountains and cliffs rise up to two kilometers (1.2 miles) above the water below. This water hides a deep underwater trench that plunges up to 1.3 kilometers (0.8 mile) below sea level.

In 2023, a landslide triggered a tsunami that wiped out vegetation along Greenland’s Dickson Fjord.

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