Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord is a majestic fjord in the Sunnmøre region of Norway’s Møre og Romsdal county. The fjord is a fifteen kilometre long branch of the Sunnylvsfjorden which is connected to the Storfjorden, also known as the ‘Great Fjord.’
The small village of Geiranger lies at the end of Geirangerfjord where the Geirangelva river feeds into it. Many tourists visiting the fjord wish to stay in Geiranger as it has a host of hotels and restaurants while maintaining the distinct Scandinavian charm and character.
Geirangerfjord is one of Norway’s most visited sites with tourists from all over the world coming to admire its sweeping views. The site was also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Nevertheless, this status has been threatened by the heavily disputed plans to construct power lines over the fjord.
Many abandoned farms lie along the sides of Geirangerfjord with some restoration having been undertaken by the Storfjordens venner association. The farm which receives the largest amount of visitors is Skageflå. Skageflå may also be reached on foot from the village of Geiranger but can also be accessed via a boat excursion. Other farms such as Knivsflå and Blomberg are also popular places to visit, however these can only be accessed by boat.
The two most noteworthy waterfalls in Geirangerfjord are the Seven Sisters Falls and the Suitor, also known as The Friar. These waterfalls are on opposite sides of the fjord, hence why it is said that the Suitor is attempting to woo the Seven Sisters in front of him.
An additional waterfall in Geirangerfjord that is definitely worth a visit the Bridal Veil. The waterfall was given this name because the water pours over a rocky precipice and when seen in the backlit sun, it appears as though a thin veil has been placed over the rocks.
However danger is not far away, as Geirangerfjord must live with the constant threat from mountain Åkerneset that will one day erode into the fjord. Such a collapse would create a tsunami that would hit the nearby towns including Hellesylt and Geiranger in an estimated ten minutes. As a result of this possibility, the Norwegian movie Bølgen or The Wave in English, used the premise of this rock slide as the central disaster of the plot line.
When at Geirangerfjord, the Gieranger Fjordservice offers one and a half hour sightseeing boat tours at a cost of 12 euros per adult (in 2017). These boat tours sail four times daily from June to August. From mid-June to August, the company also operates a smaller 15 seater boat, at a cost of 42 euros per adult (in 2017), that goes deeper and faster into the fjord. For more information about Gieranger Fjordservice, you can visit their kiosk located in the Geiranger tourist office.
How to make it the best awe experience
In addition to the suggestions made in the aweceanic article planning an experience, consider these:
– Bring warm clothes as the weather can be unpredictable.
– Ensure that you have ample time and focus all of your senses on the view before you.
– You may wish to go at a time in the year or the day when there may be less people. This could be early in the morning or at the end of the summer season.
– Bring sunglasses and sunscreen with you as the sunlight reflected in the water can be quite stark.
