fjord

Granite cliffs alongside deep fjord waters in Norway. The hard granite was carved out by powerful glaciers. Today, due to the warming influence of the Gulf Stream and the salt content of the water, the Norwegian fjords are ice-free all year.

Narrow sea inlet enclosed by high cliffs. Fjords are found in Norway, New Zealand, Southern Chile, and western parts of Scotland. They are formed when an overdeepened U-shaped glacial valley is drowned by a rise in sea-level. At the mouth of the fjord there is a characteristic lip causing a shallowing of the water. This is due to reduced glacial erosion and the deposition of moraine at this point.

Fiordland is the deeply indented southwest coast of the South Island, New Zealand; one of the most beautiful inlets is Milford Sound.