Nordfjorden (Vestland)

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Nordfjorden
Nordfjord
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View of the fjord
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Nordfjorden
Location of the fjord
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Nordfjorden
Nordfjorden (Norway)
Location Nordfjord, Vestland
Coordinates 61°53′47″N5°16′33″E / 61.8963°N 5.2759°E / 61.8963; 5.2759
Basin  countries Norway
Max. length106 kilometres (66 mi)
Max. width2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi)
Max. depth565 metres (1,854 ft)
Islands Husevågøy
Settlements Måløy

Nordfjorden is the sixth longest fjord in Norway. It flows through the municipalities of Stryn, Gloppen, Stad, Bremanger, and Kinn, and it is the central feature of the entire Nordfjord region which makes up the northern third of the county.

Contents

Map of the fjord and surrounding areas Nordfjord.png
Map of the fjord and surrounding areas

The 106-kilometre (66 mi) long fjord stretches from Husevågøy island in Kinn Municipality to the village of Loen in Stryn Municipality. The fjord starts as runoff from the Jostedalsbreen, Europe's largest mainland glacier, in the east and it flows west, emptying into the ocean just south of the Stadlandet peninsula. The mouth of the fjord lies between the large islands of Vågsøy and Bremangerlandet (with the smaller island of Husevågøy lying in the middle of the mouth).

There are several smaller fjords which branch off the main Nordfjorden: Eidsfjorden, Ålfotfjorden, Hyefjorden, and Gloppefjorden. The fjord reaches a maximum-depth of 565 metres (1,854 ft) near the mouth of the Eidsfjorden and also by the village of Bryggja. [1] [2]

Transportation

The fjord has no road or rail crossings, but it has three regular ferry crossings. There is an electric ferry from Anda to Lote as part of the European route E39 highway, using 75 kWh per crossing. [3] Another crossing is from Isane to Stårheim. The final crossing is near the mouth of the fjord from the town of Måløy to Oldeide. This final crossing also includes a stop at the island of Husevågøy in the middle of the fjord.

Settlements

There are numerous old fishing communities located along the fjord that date back to pre-Viking times. Some of the notable population centers along the fjord include the town of Måløy (near the north side of the mouth in Kinn), the villages of Bryggja and Totland (in Stad); Rugsund, Davik, and Ålfoten (in Bremanger); Kjølsdalen, Stårheim, Nordfjordeid, and Lote (in Stad); Sandane and Gimmestad (in Gloppen); and Randabygda, Utvik, Innvik, Roset, Stryn, Olden, and Loen (in Stryn). [1]

See also

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Sogn og Fjordane was, up to 1 January 2020, a county in western Norway, when it was merged to become part of Vestland county. Bordering previous counties Møre og Romsdal, Oppland, Buskerud, and Hordaland, the county administration was in the village of Hermansverk in Leikanger municipality. The largest town in the county was Førde.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vågsøy</span> Former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

Vågsøy is a former municipality in the old Sogn og Fjordane county, Norway. It was located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The municipality's administrative center was the town Måløy. Other population centers in Vågsøy included the villages of Bryggja, Deknepollen, Holvika, Kvalheim, Langeneset, Raudeberg, Refvika, Silda, Tennebø, Totland, Vedvika, and Vågsvåg. The municipality included the island of Vågsøy, several small surrounding islands, and part of the mainland. On 1 January 2020, the municipality was dissolved and divided between Kinn Municipality and Stad Municipality in Vestland county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloppen</span> Municipality in Vestland, Norway

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eid, Norway</span> Former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davik</span> Former municipality in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nordfjordeid</span> Town in Western Norway, Norway

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Lote is a village in the municipality of Stad in Vestland county, Norway. The population of Lote (2001) was 132. The village is located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) southeast of the village of Nordfjordeid and about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northwest of the village of Sandane in Gloppen Municipality. The 2.9-kilometre (1.8 mi) Lote Tunnel is a tunnel along the European route E39 that goes through a mountain north of Lote. The tunnel connects Lote with the rest of Stad municipality.

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Stårheim is a village in the municipality of Stad in Vestland county, Norway. Stårheim is located in the central part of Stad Municipality on the north shore of the Nordfjorden, about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) west of the municipal center of Nordfjordeid and about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of the village of Kjølsdalen. There is a regularly scheduled ferry route from Stårheim to the small village of Isane, located about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south across the Nordfjorden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bremangerlandet</span> Island in Norway

Bremangerlandet is an island in Bremanger Municipality in the traditional district of Nordfjord in Vestland county, Norway. The 153-square-kilometre (59 sq mi) island is one of the largest islands in the county. The highest point on the island is the 889-metre (2,917 ft) tall mountain Svartevassegga, however the cliff at Hornelen, located 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) to the east, is more well-known and has an elevation of 860 metres (2,820 ft). The 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) long lake Dalevatnet is located in the central part of the island.

Bryggja is a village in southwestern part of Stad Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on the mainland, along the northern shore of the Nordfjorden. The village is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of the urban areas of Måløy–Deknepollen–Tennebø in Kinn Municipality and it is about 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of the village of Stårheim. The small village of Totland lies just west of Bryggja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vågsøy (island)</span> Island in Norway

Vågsøy is an island in Kinn Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The 59.1-square-kilometre (22.8 sq mi) island lies on the northern side of the mouth of the Nordfjorden, the sixth longest fjord in Norway. The Stadlandet peninsula lies to the north of the island, the islands of Silda and Barmøya and the mainland lie to the east of the island, the island of Husevågøy lies to the south, and the open ocean lies to the west. Since the island lies along the open ocean, which can be rough, there are several lighthouses along the coastline of the island including: Hendanes Lighthouse, Kråkenes Lighthouse, and Skongenes Lighthouse. The highest point on the island is the 613-metre (2,011 ft) tall Veten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Husevågøy</span> Island in Norway

Husevågøy is an island in Kinn Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The 9.1-square-kilometre (3.5 sq mi) island is mountainous with few trees. The island lies in the mouth of the Nordfjorden, between the islands of Vågsøy and Bremangerlandet. In 2018, there were about 50 residents on the island. There is a car ferry that runs from the town of Måløy on Vågsøy island to Husevågøy and then on to Oldeide on Bremangerlandet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloppefjorden</span> Fjord in Gloppen, Norway

Gloppefjorden or Gloppenfjorden is a fjord in Gloppen Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) long fjord flows from the village of Sandane in the southeast to its mouth at the Nordfjorden in the northwest. The river Gloppeelva is the primary inflow on the fjord. The river comes from the large lake Breimsvatnet. The 2.7-kilometre (1.7 mi) wide fjord has a lot of settlements along the inner parts of the fjord, especially on the eastern side of the fjord. The most notable village areas are Sandane, Vereide, and Sørstranda. The European route E39 highway runs along the eastern side of the fjord. Sandane Airport, Anda is located near the mouth of the fjord.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stad, Norway</span> Municipality in Vestland, Norway

Stad is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The municipality includes much of the northern shore of the Nordfjorden as well as the Stad peninsula. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nordfjordeid. Other villages in the municipality include Selje, Barmen, Ervik, Flatraket, Hoddevik, Hoddevika, Håvik, Leikanger, Mogrenda, Stårheim, Haugen, Kjølsdalen, Heggjabygda, and Lote.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kinn</span> Municipality in Vestland, Norway

Kinn is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It was established on 1 January 2020. It is in the traditional districts of Nordfjord and Sunnfjord. The municipality is the only non-contiguous municipality in Norway since the municipality of Bremanger lies in between the north and south parts of Kinn. The administrative centres of the municipality is the two cities of Florø and Måløy. Some villages in the municipality include Rognaldsvåg, Stavang, Grov, Norddalsfjord, Nyttingnes, Steinhovden, Brandsøy, Deknepollen, Holvika, Kvalheim, Langeneset, Raudeberg, Refvika, Silda, Tennebø, Vedvika, and Vågsvåg.

References

  1. 1 2 Store norske leksikon. "Nordfjorden" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2013-09-14.
  2. "The Nordfjord". VisitNorway.com. Retrieved 2013-09-14.
  3. "Fjord1 vil ha slutt på "Tesla-tilstander" for elferjene". Tu.no (in Norwegian). Teknisk Ukeblad. 2 August 2019.