What is a fjord?

A fjord is created over long ice ages when a massive glacier grinds its way toward the sea, gouging out a deep U-shaped valley in the bedrock. When the glacier eventually retreats and sea levels rise, the ocean floods the valley, leaving a narrow arm of seawater walled by towering cliffs. Fjords can be remarkably deep, sometimes exceeding 1,000 m, and their sheltered waters often host rich marine life. They are most common in high-latitude regions with a history of heavy glaciation, such as Norway, Chile, New Zealand, Greenland, and Canada. Norway alone has more than a thousand fjords, and many are celebrated for their dramatic scenery.