EYE ON NORWAY: NATURAL WONDERS IN THE COOL NORTH

Sparkling turquoise waters, verdant mountains, dramatic
waterfalls…sounds like Jamaica?

Think North! The remarkable and unique Norwegian fjords provide some
of Europe’s most breathtaking natural attractions. A gift from the Ice
Age, enormous glaciers carved their way through the high mountain
ranges. When they melted, seawater rushed, filling in the crevices and
leaving behind a system of ambling waterways and the valleys that hug
them. They can be enjoyed from coastal roads, mountain viewpoints, or
from boats traversing the fjords themselves.

And fjords are as deep as the mountains that contain them.
Their names are too many to list. Think of a fjord as a hand with
fingers extended, each representing a secondary fjord itself. They
twist and turn through white-capped peaks. The snow runs off as
cascading falls during the spring and summer months.

The GEIRANGER FJORD is the most dramatic, known for it’s multiple
waterfalls colorfully named  “The Seven Sisters”. Across the fjord
sits “The Suitor”, who, unable to woo these beauties, is said to have
turned himself into the shape of a bottle.

At the fjord’s head sits Mount Dalsnibba at over 4800 feet high. It
overlooks the fjord and charming hamlet of Geiranger itself. The
nearby Jostedalsbreen National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
surrounds the largest glacier in Europe.

The SOGNEFJORD is the longest in Norway, running for 128 miles. While
the outer section is fairly straight, the inner part branches in all
directions. From here you can reach the flat-topped and now iconic
Pulpit Rock, a true poster child for Norwegian tourism. A two-hour
hike will get you to the summit, where mind-blowing photo ops worthy
of National Geographic await you.

The tiny town of Flaam is reached by the Sognefjord. It’s famous Flaam
Railway, one of the world’s steepest, covers over 12 miles of track
from the fjord shore to a mountain top. Weaving through a 3000 foot
tunnel and with an occasional hairpin turn, it provides spectacular
views of the rough terrain and valley below.

The LUSTRAFJORD, one of the fingers of the Sognefjorden, is smaller
yet picturesque. At the head sits pretty Skjolden, one of my favorite
hiking destinations, with well-marked trails heading out of town. Some
trails are rough but get you to an incredible viewpoint.

Above the village of Skjolden (population 500) is the National Road to
Lom. Once the Royal Road, it was created here by decree in the 15th
century. During the winter, locals were required to keep the mountain
pass cleared and open to assure access for trading. Caravans would
carry farm goods and products down the mountains and return with salt,
iron, cloth, and lutefisk.

Lom skirts the Jotunheim Mountain Range with some of Europe’s highest peaks. Medieval stave churches, post and beam architectural gems that once numbered over 1,000, can be found along the fjords in Lom, Urnes, and Laerdal. Today only about 30 remain in Norway.

The HARDANGER FJORD twists and turns through small towns and farming communities. The Folgefonna Glacier sits 5,249 feet above it. Eidfjord, about a 2.5 hour drive from Bergen, offers the
Voringsfossen, a 478 foot waterfall tumbling high above town. The
landscape here has deep valleys, a rushing river, and a lovely,
well-established hotel.

Charming villages dot hillside landscapes in all of the fjords. Once
farmed for sustenance and trade, many homesteads were abandoned
because of the isolation and harsh winters. Others are now used by
sportsmen who come to fish, or by families as holiday destinations.

If you love majestic scenery, quaint traditional towns, and family
road trips, this may be a destination for you.

Read about Juliana’s featured venues for comfy and cozy stays while
visiting the Norwegian fjords.

• Deborah Frailoi

A traveler since childhood, Juliana Fraioli Wilson has always had a love for exploring. She is a published writer and an accomplished business owner with a background in music and art. Join Juliana, her husband Ryan, and their two kids in Wanderland! Follow along as they share tips, tricks, recipes and reviews from some of the most beautiful travel destinations in the world.