Norway
The Geirangerfjord is Norway’s most beautiful fjord, which is saying a lot. Technically an extension of the much larger Storfjorden, the Geirangerfjord is one of the most stunning sites in Scandinavia, and one of the most visited. Because of the steep slopes of the surrounding mountains, the fjord is virtually uninhabited. The Geirangerfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It is uncertain when the fjords of the west coast of Norway were first explored, but the area was probably not settled until the 3rd millennium BC. The oldest permanent settlers around the Geirangerfjord likely arrived during the Germanic migrations. Never home to more than a few small villages and mountain farms, the fjord remains mostly uninhabited. It was added to the World Heritage list in 2005.
The Geirangerfjord is a nine mile branch off of Norway’s Great Fjord. Fed by the Geirangelva River, it is hemmed in on almost all sides by steep, forested slopes. A handful of old farms, many now abandoned, line its banks. A number of waterfalls plunge into the fjord, of which the two most famous are the Seven Sisters Fall and The Suitor Fall, which face each other on opposite sides of the water.
The Geirangerfjord is a boater’s paradise. Difficult to reach or appreciate any other way, the fjord abounds with everything from small sightseeing boats to large cruise ships. One popular way to enjoy the fjord is by car ferry which connects several road pints along the waterway. Web: www.geiranger.no (official tourism website).
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