Sognefjord

The Sognefjord ("Sognefjorden") is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world, after Scoresby Sund on Greenland. Located in Sogn og Fjordane it stretches 205 km (127 mi) inland to the small village of Skjolden. The fjord takes its name from the traditional district of Sogn. Branch fjords include Fjærlandsfjord, Sogndalsfjord, Lustrafjord, Årdalsfjord, Lærdalsfjord, Aurlandsfjord and the World Heritage Site Nærøyfjord.

Geography

The fjord reaches a maximum depth of 1,308 m below sea level; the greatest depths are found some way inland. Near its mouth, the bottom rises abruptly to a sill about 100 m below sea level. The average width of the main branch of the Sognefjord is about 4 and a half km. Cliffs surrounding the fjord rise almost sheer from the water to heights of 1000m and more.

The inner end of Sognefjord is localized southeast of a mountain range rising to about 2,000 m above sea level and covered by Jostedalsbreen, continental Europe's largest Glacier. Thus the climate of the inner end of Sognefjord and its branches is not as wet as on the outer coastline. Around this inner end, three of Norway's famous stave churches have survived, Kaupanger and Urnes near its banks and Borgund stave church 30 km up Lærdal.

Lustrafjord

The innermost arm of the Sognerfjord is called Lustrafjord. At its end there is the village of skjolden, which is an acces to Jotunheimen National Park. In earlier times Transport from Bergen to Scandinavian inland and vice versa was done on boat from Bergen to Skjolden and from there on a simple road ofer the highlands.

ociety

Boats connect settlements along the fjord and its sidearms. Towns on the fjord and its branches include Høyanger, Vik, Sogndal, Lærdal, Årdal, Gaupne, Balestrand, Gudvangen and Flåm. Gudvangen is situated by the Nærøyfjord, a branch of the Sognefjord particularly noted for its unspoilt nature and dramatic scenery, [ [http://www.sognefjord.no/fjord/naeroyfjord.asp Nærøyfjord] and only 300 m across at its narrowest point. The Nærøyfjord is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Flåm, the Flåm Railway climbs 864 meters up to Myrdal in only 20 km—the steepest unassisted railway climb in the world.

Over the Sognefjord a power line with a span of 4597 m is installed. This is the second largest span of power lines in the world. The fjord has become a tourist attraction with summer tourists being an important part of the local economy

External links

* [http://www.sognefjord.no/ www.sognefjord.no]
* [http://www.flaamsbana.no/eng/Index.html Flåmsbana information]
* [http://www.statnett.no/default.aspx?ChannelID=1307 Powerline information]