Sognefjord

One arm of the Sognefjord

View to the northwest

The Sognefjord in the district of Sogn Sogn og Fjordane in Norwegian Fylke the longest ( 204 km ), while the deepest ( 1308 meters) fjord in Europe (the longest and deepest fjord in the world is the Scoresby Sund in Greenland with 340-350 km long and 1450 meters depth). He branches out into many smaller tributaries such as the Aurlandfjord, the Lustrafjord or Nærøyfjorden ( the narrowest fjord in Europe ).

Its western end is located approximately 80 km north of Bergen in Sygnefest, its eastern end is Årdalstangen ( the Årdalsfjord ). However Farthest to water from the open sea is Skjolden at the north end of the Lustrafjord.

Climate

The inner part of the fjord lies on the leeward side of high mountains such as Breheimen ( with the glacier Jostedalsbreen ). Therefore, there is a distinct difference in climate between distinct maritime climate at the mouth of the open sea and kontinentalerem air at the inner end of the fjord and its sidearms. Before the mouth of the fjord is underwater rocks a threshold that leaves only the warm surface waters of the Gulf Stream flowing from the North Sea into the fjord. Thus, the climate is mild and makes a total, especially on the north shore, extensive fruit growing.

Places, Culture

In four places on the shores of the Sognefjord are stave churches Urnes is the oldest ever obtained, a more in Kaupanger. Even more significant is the Borgund Stave Church, 30 kilometers upstream of the inlet port Lærdalsøyri. The smallest stave church in Scandinavia ( with around 40 seats ) is the stave church Undredal. Another stave church located in Vik.

Other points of interest along the fjord are, inter alia, Balestrand, Vadheim, Høyanger, Vik, Leikanger, Gudvangen, Aurland, Flåm, Sogndal, Kaupanger, Laerdal, Hafslo, Marifjøra and Skjolden.

Infrastructure

Traffic

The north shore is followed by a road, which is, however, performed between Høyanger Lane and through a tunnel and between Sogndal and Gaupne largely inland in almost its entire length. In the southeast of the adjacent to the ends of the side valleys of fjords Laerdal, Aurland or Flåm and Gudvangen the adjacent are connected through road tunnels, each 20 km in length. In several places, ferries cross the fjord, as of Rutledal after Rysjedalsvika, Brekke by Lavik, Balestrand -Hella, Hella and Dragsvik Dragsvik - Vangsnes, Kaupanger - Revsnes, Kaupanger - Årdalsvangen ( longitudinal connection ), Solvorn Urnes.

Flåm on Aurlandfjord is connected by the 20 km long steep but vollspurige Flåm mountain railway and therefore has access to the international railway network.

Energy

About the Sognefjord and a side arm, the Aurlandfjord, several overhead lines are stretched near the place Leikanger. The longest of these overhead line crossings has a span of 4850 meters, the second largest wingspan of all overhead line crossings world and feeds the electricity from the power plant Hermansverk the nationwide power grid. Nearby there is also the overhead line crossing with the third longest span of 4520 meters. As high-voltage masts come at both ends of this line overvoltage three credits masts ( for each phase a ) are used. They are due to the deep fjord in contrast to the high-voltage pylons of Elbe crossing 1 and 2 and the former power line over the Strait of Messina is not higher than normal overhead line masts.

View from Storehaugen the Sognefjord

Urnes by the Sognefjord

Tourism

The Sognefjord area is one of the UNESCO World heritage and is attractive to tourists for a long time. It offers a variety of national parks, such as the Jotunheimen National Park, the Glacier National Park Jostedalsbreen and the valleys Aurland Utladalen. Through the Jotunheimen National Park 's highest mountain pass in Northern Europe runs. Another attraction point represents the Vettisfossen in Årdal, with 275 meters of free fall height of one of the highest waterfalls in Norway.

In addition to natural attractions, there are many culturally interesting offers. The award-winning Norwegian Glacier Museum in Sogndal, a Wild Salmon Center or Norway's oldest stave church Stave Church urn among them.

Scenic counts this part of Norway into one of the most popular hiking regions in Norway. Glacier walks, kayaking on fjords and glacial lakes and boat trips or fjord cruises are popular for outdoor activities.