Nærøyfjord

View over the fjord to Bakka

Nærøyfjorden

The Nærøyfjorden is a fjord in Norway in the municipality of Aurland. It is a branch of the Sognefjord and is 17 kilometers long. The fjord is frequently visited because of its spectacular scenery. In the summer months, larger tourist boats sail through the narrow fjord to Gudvangen place at the end of the fjord. Together with the Geirangerfjord of Nærøyfjorden was included in the list of World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO on 14 July 2005.

Geography, landscape and geology

Million years ago, around 2.5 rivers dug from deep V-shaped valleys along geological vulnerabilities. The fjords of the area formed when the glaciers of the Quartäreiszeit formed these valleys to large trough valleys, with exceptionally high and steep cliffs in which accumulated sea water after the end of the Ice Age.

The fjord is characterized by up to 1760 meters high, steep cliffs that frame the fjord on both sides. At the narrowest point of the fjord is only 250 meters wide. On the basis of rockfall large ships can not use the horn during the passage through the narrowest point.

Flora and Fauna

Characteristic of the fjord are its varying landscape types, covered by high mountains at Fresvikgletscher on high pastures up to the deciduous forest, sheltered bays. The species diversity of plant life is due to the many different habitats and the exceptionally mild climate. The formerly cultivated plots of land offer another special habitat for some plants. One of the rarest plants in the area of the fjord is the Arctic Poppy

Last but not least live due to the diversity of plants in and around the Nærøyfjorden numerous mammals such as mountain reindeer, elk, deer, arctic fox, lynx, otter, lemmings and porpoises but also fish, insects and over 100 species of birds including the white-backed woodpecker and many other sea, Wat, forest, and alpine birds. Many animals are on the red list of endangered species.

Cultural History

When the glaciers melted away in the area around 10,000 years ago, the first settlers found a. On the basis of animal graves fishing and hunting hiding could prove the importance of reindeer hunting at this time.

On both sides of the fjord a few small settlements and farms that are only accessible from the water. On the western shore Bakka is the 1859 -built church.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

( In Norwegian called " Vestnorsk fjordlandskap " ) together with the Geirangerfjord Nærøyfjorden the 2005 UNESCO World Natural Heritage " West Norwegian Fjords " was declared. This is partly fulfilling the same two nature conservation criteria, because the area has a unique natural diversity, which was created through the symbiosis of sea and mountains, and a largely uninfluenced by human interventions landscape.

The 1227 km ² (of which 107 km ² water surface ) large area includes the inner parts of the fjords with a, the thrust out as far as the central massif, Eastern Norway which geographically separates it from Western Norway. The part of the area around the Geirangerfjord has a size of 518 km ², of Nærøyfjorden an area of 709 km ².

The UNESCO committee justified the decision to include the fjords as follows:

" The West Norwegian Fjords 's classic and especially especially well pronounced Fjord types that are to be regarded as a typical example for all fjords in the world. Their mightiness and grandeur is comparable to other fjords, which have been inscribed on the World Heritage List. Moreover, they are characterized by their specific climatic and geological conditions of. the area has all the elements of the processes for the formation of two of the longest and deepest fjords in the world.

Nærøy and Geirangerfjord are regarded as by far the most beautiful fjord scenery in the world. Their sublime nature comes through the narrow, steep valley walls to express that extend from 500 m below sea level to 1,400 m above sea level. Numerous waterfalls extremely steep rock walls plunge down, and countless mountain streams flow from snow-capped peaks, glaciers and glacial lakes by deciduous and coniferous forests down to the fiord. The variety of other natural phenomena to water and land, such as submarine moraines and marine mammals, enhance the experience of nature. Remains of ancient, now abandoned farms and pastures give the dramatic natural landscape a cultural dimension which support and enhance the value of this area. "