Hardangerfjord – One of the Most Beautiful Fjords in the World

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the fjords of Norway. Most likely what you picture is something like the photo above. I took this picture while cruising on the Hardangerfjord in Norway and because of its breathtaking beauty, it has been my screen saver for several years.

Even though the photo above is certainly beautiful it does not begin to capture the real experience. Gliding along a portion of the 111-mile Hardangerfjord on a ferry boat remains a highlight of all my many travels. The combination of blue-green water and the passing majestic mountains is quite unlike anything else I have experienced.

As I watched the scenery slip by, I tried to take as much video and still shots as possible. However, I still needed to stop and look at the real pictures playing out before me because I knew, without a doubt, that these images would be seared into my memory for the rest of my life.

What is a Fjord?

A fjord (fēˈôrd) is a long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway and Iceland. A fjord is formed when a glacier retreats, after carving its typical U-shaped valley, and the sea fills the resulting valley floor. This forms a narrow, steep sided inlet connected to the sea.

Because fjords are extensions of the ocean they contain salt water. However, overflowing fresh rivers often flow into the fjord, mixing with the saltwater.  As a result, the salt content of the top layer is notably lower than in the Atlantic.

Coastal Norway

Coastal Norway was on my bucket list for many years but due to the long and difficult air itinerary, I kept putting it off. Finally, a few years ago, I just did it. I booked a cruise on Holland America Koningsdam called “14-Day Voyage of the Midnight Sun.”

The Midnight Sun

The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle, including Northern Norway, when the sun remains visible at the local midnight. This natural phenomena colors heaven and earth with a reddish yellow light.

Eidfjord

We transferred from the ship to a bus that took us to Eidfjord, our first stop after boarding in Amsterdam.

Eidfjord is a charming village at the head of the fjord. with only about 1,000 inhabitants. However, due to its production of hydroelectric power, it is one of Norway’s wealthiest communities as well as being a major cruise port. There is easy access to ferry boats that take passengers along a portion of the magnificent Hardangerfjord for a 45 minute ride through some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.

Some other places to visit in the area are:

The Voringsfossen Waterfall

A path leads down to a viewing platform offering a stunning view of the waterfall as it cascades down into a deep canyon almost 600 feet below.

Sima Power Plant

Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy. Sima Power Plant is built into the side of a mountain.

In Conclusion

This first stop on our on our Norway coastal voyage was even more spectacular than expected. It is true that pictures cannot always capture what is visable to the eyes but they are a good substitute if you cannot make the trip yourself.