Fjords

A fjord is a long, narrow body of water. It is surrounded by steep, tall cliffs. Fjords were made by giant sheets of ice called glaciers. Today, they are filled with sea water.

How Fjords Are Made

Thousands of years ago, huge glaciers covered parts of the world. As they slowly moved, they carved deep U-shaped valleys in the land. When the ice melted, the sea flowed into the valleys. This made the deep water channels we call fjords.

A slow glacier carves a deep fjord in Greenland.
A slow glacier carves a deep fjord in Greenland. (Jefferson Beck and Maria-José Viñas / Wikimedia Commons)

Where to Find Them

Fjords are found in cold parts of the world. Norway is famous for having many of them. You can also see them in Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Chile, and New Zealand. They are often beautiful places with waterfalls falling from the cliffs.

Fun Facts

  • The deepest fjord in the world is Skelton Inlet in Antarctica, over 6,000 feet deep.
  • The word 'fjord' comes from the Norwegian language.
  • Some fjords are so deep that big ships can sail in them.

Did You Know?

Sognefjord in Norway is over 120 miles long, making it one of the longest fjords on Earth.