The fjords have such unique shapes due to the action of glaciers that sculpted them for thousands of years, creating these deep and narrow valleys submerged by the sea after the ice melted.
Fjords come from the passage of ancient glaciers, incredibly heavy and massive, that slowly slid toward the sea, scraping and hollowing out the rock along their path. This glacial erosion acts like a gigantic sandpaper, sculpting deep, narrow, U-shaped valleys. Once the glacier has melted and disappeared, these valleys flooded by the sea become our famous fjords. Glaciers also have the characteristic of sculpting irregularly, which gives these spectacular silhouettes to the fjords: steep, confined, and lined with imposing cliffs. Where the ice was thickest and most powerful, the valley is often even deeper and narrower, creating particularly impressive reliefs.
Tectonic movements have clearly shaped the current appearance of fjords. Basically, when plates move and collide, they generate faults and cracks in the Earth's crust. These weaknesses become the ideal places where glaciers will sink deeply and carve out, further accentuating the steep and spectacular nature characteristic of fjords. Where movements are more pronounced, the fjord walls are often very steep, with narrow and abrupt slopes. When certain areas rise due to these tectonic movements (also known as tectonic uplift), they create breathtaking and widely visible profiles in several Norwegian or Chilean fjords. These regions clearly show how the major movements beneath our feet influence what we admire on the surface.
The nature of the rock significantly influences the shape of fjords. Hard rocks like granite resist glacial erosion better, creating steep walls and narrow valleys. In contrast, softer rocks, such as certain clays or schists, wear down easily and produce broader, less steep shapes. As a result, depending on the mix of rock in the area (hard, crumbly, or even a combination of both), each fjord will have its own unique characteristic: sharp profiles or gentler curves. Therefore, it is primarily the physical properties of the local rock that guide the glacier, sculpting the distinctive shape we observe today.
The glacial periods have largely sculpted the current appearance of the fjords. During the cooling of the climate, huge glaciers slowly advanced toward the sea, violently carving the land and shaping the deep valleys characteristic of modern fjords. In contrast, during global warming phases, their rapid retreat caused a rise in sea levels, filling these valleys with seawater. These successive changes between glacial periods and warmer ones have left well-visible marks: steep walls, pronounced depths, and perfect U shapes. Without these repeated waves of cooling and warming, the fjords would probably be much less spectacular today.
The Norwegian fjord Sognefjord is nicknamed "the king of fjords" due to its impressive length (204 kilometers) and depth reaching up to 1,308 meters.
The word "fjord" comes from the Old Norse "fjǫrðr," which means "narrow sea passage" or "arm of the sea," reflecting their widespread Scandinavian origin, particularly in Norway.
Scoresby Sund fjord in Greenland is regarded as the largest fjord in the world, extending over 350 kilometers inland and reaching depths of up to 1,450 meters.
Although fjords are typically associated with cold and high latitudes, there are also some in milder climates: New Zealand, for instance, has Milford Sound, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
No, fjords are mainly found in areas where glaciers have been active, such as in Norway, Greenland, and Alaska, but also further south in places like New Zealand or Chile. Their presence is linked to a glacial history rather than just latitude alone.
There are no true fjords in mainland France, as the country has not experienced significant recent coastal glaciation periods. However, some landscapes, like the calanques of Marseille, exhibit a few similar characteristics, with submerged valleys featuring steep cliffs.
The glaciers, through their successive movements of advance and retreat, have been able to carve deeply into rocky valleys. Thus, when the glaciers retreat and the sea level rises, water enters these valleys that have already been profoundly shaped by ice, creating very deep fjords.
Yes, fjords are sensitive to the consequences of climate change. The rapid melting of glaciers influences the morphology of fjords by altering sediment deposits and affecting the associated marine ecosystems, while also potentially having a significant impact on local populations that depend on their biodiversity.
A fjord is a valley deeply carved by the advance and retreat of a glacier, submerged by the sea due to rising sea levels. Fjords are characterized by their steep walls and impressive depth.
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