The Fjords

Virtually the entire coastline of Western Norway is indented by a succession of long, narrow fjords caused by glacial erosion. Hardangerfjord, Boknafjord and Sognefjord are the best-known. The latter stretches for 127 miles inland from the ocean to the small village of Skjolden. Typically the fjords have steep sides threaded by dramatic waterfalls, with Syv Systre, Toka Gorge and Vøringsfossen among the most beautiful. The coast is linked by a network of comfortable ferries from the Hurtigruten company, which call at 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes. Western Norway consists of the counties of Rogaland, Hordaland, Sogn og Fjordane and Møre og Romsdal. The region has a population of approximately 1.3 million people, and the largest cities are Bergen and Stavanger.