In physical geography, a fjord or fiord is a long, narrow sea inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Antarctica, the Arctic, and surrounded landmasses of the northern and southern hemispheres. Norway's coastline is estimated to be 29,000 km (18,000 mi) long with its nearly 1,200 fjords, but only 2,500 km (1,600 mi) long excluding the fjords.
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.
Høyanger is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Høyanger. Other villages in Høyanger municipality include Austreim, Bjordal, Kyrkjebø, Lavik, Ortnevik, and Vadheim.
Sogndal is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on the northern shore of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The village of Hermansverk is the administrative center of Sogndal municipality. Other villages include Kaupanger, Kjørnes, Fimreite, Nornes, and Fjærland. Sogndal Airport, Haukåsen is located 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of Kaupanger.
Aurland is a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. It is located on the south side of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center is the village of Aurlandsvangen. Other villages include Bakka, Flåm, Undredal, and Gudvangen.
Lærdal is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on the south side of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Lærdalsøyri. The old Filefjell Kongevegen road passes through Lærdal on its way to Valdres and later to Oslo.
Luster is a municipality in Vestland county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Sognefjorden in the traditional district of Sogn. The administrative centre is the village of Gaupne. Other villages in Luster include Fortun, Hafslo, Indre Hafslo, Jostedal, Luster, Nes, Ornes, Skjolden, Solvorn, and Veitastrond.
Førde is a former municipality in the county of Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. It was located in the traditional district of Sunnfjord. The administrative center was the town of Førde which in 2016 had 10,255 inhabitants. Other villages in Førde municipality included Bruland, Holsen, Moskog, and Haukedalen. The Øyrane area in the town of Førde was a large industrial/commercial area for the region. The European Route E39 highway passed through the municipality, and it passed by the lake Holsavatnet.
Stryn is a municipality in the county of Vestland, Norway. It is located in the traditional district of Nordfjord. The administrative center of the municipality is the village of Stryn. The municipality is located along the innermost part of the Nordfjorden. Some of the main villages in Stryn include Loen, Innvik, Utvik, Randabygda, Olden, and Flo.
The Sognefjord or Sognefjorden, nicknamed the King of the Fjords, is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway. Located in Vestland county in Western Norway, it stretches 205 kilometres (127 mi) inland from the ocean to the small village of Skjolden in the municipality of Luster.
Flåm is a village in the Flåmsdalen valley which is located at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjorden, a branch of Sognefjorden. The village is located in Aurland Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. In 2014 its inhabitants numbered 350.
Harbardsbreen is the 10th largest glacier in mainland Norway. It is located on the south side of the Tverrådalskyrkja mountain in the Breheimen mountain range in the municipality of Luster in Vestland county, Norway.
Aurlandsvangen is the administrative center of Aurland Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the east side of the Aurlandsfjorden where the Aurlandselvi river flows into the fjord. The village of Undredal and the famous Nærøyfjord are located just a few kilometres to the northwest. Aurlandsvangen is located on the European route E16 highway about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northeast of the village of Flåm and 32 kilometres (20 mi) southwest of the village of Lærdalsøyri.
Fresvik is a village in the municipality of Vik in Vestland county, Norway. It is located on the southern shore of the Sognefjorden, just west of where the Aurlandsfjorden joins the Sognefjorden. Fresvik sits about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of Leikanger-Hermansverk, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the municipal center of Vikøyri, and about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) southeast of the village of Feios. The population (2001) of Fresvik is approximately 275.
Prestesteinsvatnet is a lake in Luster Municipality in Vestland county, Norway, with a small part of the lake crossing over into the neighboring Lom Municipality in Innlandet county. The 4.12-square-kilometre (1,020-acre) lake sits at an elevation of 1,357 metres (4,452 ft) above sea level. It lies along the south side of the Sognefjellsvegen road, just to the north of the mountain Fannaråki and the Fannaråkbreen glacier. The lake sits just outside the borders of Jotunheimen National Park. The village of Skjolden lies about 20 kilometres (12 mi) to the southwest of the lake.
Vikøyri is the administrative center of the municipality of Vik in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located at the mouth of the Vikja river on the south shore of the Sognefjorden, roughly near the midpoint of Norway's longest fjord. The village lies along Norwegian National Road 13 which leads north to the ferry to Balestrand and south to the village of Vossevangen. The 1.37-square-kilometre (340-acre) village has a population (2019) of 1,245 and a population density of 909 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,350/sq mi).
Vangsnes is a village located in the municipality of Vik in Vestland county, Norway. It's located on a relatively flat and fertile peninsula that juts out on the south side of the Sognefjorden, roughly at the midpoint of the fjord which is Norway's longest. The village of Balestrand lies about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to the northwest and the villages of Leikanger-Hermansverk lie about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) straight east. Vangsnes Church is located in the village.
Nese is a village in Vik Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the shore of the inner part of the Arnafjorden in the eastern part of the municipality. This is the site of Arnafjord Church, where there has been a church since the 1600s. This village was historically the main village around this fjord, with a shop, post office, and steamship stop. Today the population has declined to that of a very small village.
Nornes or Norane is a village in Sogndal Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the northern shore of the Sogndalsfjorden, just east of its mouth where it empties into the main Sognefjorden. The village of Fimreite lies across the fjord from Nornes. The village sits about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) southwest of the municipal centre of Sogndalsfjøra and about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of the village of Hermansverk. Norum Church is located on the east side of Nornes. Norwegian County Road 55 runs through the village, connecting it to Sogndalsfjøra and Hermansverk.
Solvorn is a village in Luster Municipality in Vestland county, Norway. The village is located on the western shore of the Lustrafjorden, the innermost part of the Sognefjorden. The village sits directly across the fjord from the village of Ornes, where the famous 12th-century Urnes Stave Church is located. The village of Hafslo lies about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the northwest.
