How Fjords Were Formed?
Geological Explanation: How Fjords Were Formed
Fjords are deep valleys carved by glaciers and later filled with seawater after the Ice Ages. They are not ordinary river canyons, but formations created by immense glaciers moving forward with tremendous force.
Over the past two to three million years, Scandinavia has experienced more than 50 ice ages.
During these periods, a massive ice sheet covered the region:
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In the center (over present-day Sweden and Norway), it reached up to 3 kilometers thick,
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Along the coast, the ice was still around 1 kilometer thick.
As the ice slowly moved downward from the mountains, it eroded and carved deep valleys. When the climate warmed and the ice retreated, these valleys filled with seawater — forming what we now know as fjords.
That’s why fjords are unique: they are both a testament to the power of ancient glaciers and a majestic part of Norway’s coastal landscape, making Norwegian nature so extraordinary.