Fjords, Glaciers & Northern Lights
How Fjords Form
Fjords are glacier-carved, deep sea inlets extending far inland. During the ice ages (the last ended about 10,000 years ago), massive glaciers pushed through the valleys to the sea. Their weight (up to 3 km thick!) gouged deep U-shaped valleys into the rock. As the ice melted, the sea flooded these valleys — the fjords were born.
Norway's fjords are so spectacular because the mountains here are steep and high (up to 1,800 m) and the valleys incredibly deep (the Sognefjord reaches 1,308 m below sea level). The combination of depth, narrowness, and height of the rock walls is unique worldwide.
Glaciers
Norway has over 1,600 glaciers — they cover about 1% of the land area. The Jostedalsbreen is the largest mainland glacier in Europe at 487 km². Its arms (Briksdalsbre, Nigardsbreen, Bøyabreen) extend almost to the fjords. The Folgefonna near Bergen offers summer skiing.
However, the glaciers are melting rapidly: Since 1900, Norwegian glaciers have lost an average of 30–40% of their mass. Climate change is particularly visible in Norway.
Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
Northern lights occur when electrically charged particles from the solar wind collide with the Earth's atmosphere. Norway's location in the auroral oval (65–72° northern latitude) makes Northern Norway one of the best observation spots in the world.
- Colors: Green (most common, oxygen at 100 km altitude), Red (oxygen at 200 km altitude), Violet/Blue (nitrogen)
- Best Time: September–March, 9:00 PM–1:00 AM
- Best Locations: Tromsø, Alta, Lofoten, Senja, Nordkapp
- Conditions: Clear sky, little moonlight, high solar activity (KP index >= 3)
