Photo 1: Norwegian fjord among high mountains.
Photo 2: A Norwegian fjord, Lysefjorden, near the famous landmark Prekestolen. © Sirpa Malinen-Lund.
Norway`s fjords are third on Lonely Planet`s list after The Nile and The Northwest Passage when it comes what the travel guide call the romance of long ocean and river voyages.
As Loney Planet writes: "Scoured and gouged by ancient glaciers, Norway’s fjords are a veritable wonderland. These deep, sea-drowned valleys, scissored by impossibly rugged terrain, were recently voted by National Geographic Traveler magazine as the world’s best travel destination."
The mentioned Preikestolen or Prekestolen is known by the English translations of Preacher's Pulpit or Pulpit Rock, and by the old local name Hyvlatonnå (“the carpenter-plane’s blade”), is a massive cliff 604 metres (1982 feet) above Lysefjorden, opposite the Kjerag plateau, in Forsand, Ryfylke, Norway. The top of the cliff is approximately 25 by 25 metres (82 by 82 feet) square, almost flat, and is a famous tourist attraction in Norway (source: Wikipedia).
View Loney Planet`s photo gallery of the selected voyages.
In the presentation of Norway, Lonely Planet writes:
"Norway is a country at a crossroads, although given Norway’s natural wonders and significant wealth, it’s a situation in which most countries in the world would love to find themselves. Norway is, by any standards, one of the most beautiful countries on earth, but that beauty brings with it a responsibility that weighs heavily upon Norwegians."
West Norwegian Fjords - Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord were inscription in 2005. They are situated in south-western Norway, north-east of Bergen, Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord, set 120 km from one another, are part of the west Norwegian fjord landscape, which stretches from Stavanger in the south to Andalsnes, 500 km to the north-east.
The two fjords, among the world’s longest and deepest, are considered as archetypical fjord landscapes and among the most scenically outstanding anywhere. Their exceptional natural beauty is derived from their narrow and steep-sided crystalline rock walls that rise up to 1,400 m from the Norwegian Sea and extend 500 m below sea level. The sheer walls of the fjords have numerous waterfalls while free-flowing rivers cross their deciduous and coniferous forests to glacial lakes, glaciers and rugged mountains. The landscape features a range of supporting natural phenomena, both terrestrial and marine, such as submarine moraines and marine mammals.
Read more on Lonely Planet`s website:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/egypt/travel-tips-and-articles/76738
Need more inspiration to fill up that travel bucket list? You’ll never run dry with Lonely Planet’s 1000 Ultimate Experiences, also available for iPad.
Stein Morten Lund, 29 August 2011
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