Fjord or Fiord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial erosion. Norway’s coastline is estimated at 29,000 km with fjords, but only 2500 km when fjords are excluded.

A fjord is a long, narrow, and deep inlet of the sea, flanked by steep cliffs or mountains. It is formed by the process of glaciation, where a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by ice segregation and abrasion of the surrounding bedrock.

When the glacier retreats, sea water floods the valley, creating the characteristic deep, narrow inlet. Fjords are typically found in locations with current or past glaciations, such as Norway, New Zealand, and parts of Canada. They are known for their dramatic and rugged beauty, often becoming focal points for tourism and recreation.

Fjords generally have a sill or shoal (bedrock) at their mouth caused by the previous glacier’s reduced erosion rate and terminal moraine.