Geiranger
Encyclopedia
Geiranger is a small tourist village in Sunnmøre
in the municipality of Stranda
in Møre og Romsdal
county, in the western part of Norway
. It lies at the head of the Geirangerfjord
, which is a branch of the Storfjord
. The nearest city is Ålesund
. Geiranger is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, and has been named the best travel destination
in Scandinavia
by Lonely Planet
. Since 2005, the Geirangerfjord has been listed as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
. The Seven Sisters waterfall
is located just west of Geiranger. Norwegian national road 63
passes through the village.
This third biggest cruise ship
port receives 140 to 180 ships during the four-month tourist season. Several hundred thousand people pass through every summer, and tourism
is the main business for the 250 people who live there permanently. There are five hotels and over ten camping sites. The tourist season stretches from May to early September; in the off-season the pace and activity are reduced to that of a normal small Norwegian town. Tours of the nearby historic farms of Knivsflå
and Skageflå
are available from Geiranger.
Each year in June, the Geiranger – From Fjord to Summit event occurs. It comprises a half marathon
run and a bicycle race,
both starting from the sea level at the fjord and ending at the 1497 metres (4,911.4 ft) summit of Mount Dalsnibba
, near the lake Djupvatnet
. Since there is still a lot of snow left in the mountains at that time of year, the race could also be called "From Summer to Winter".
Geiranger is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset which could erode into the fjord
. A collapse could cause a tsunami
that could destroy downtown Geiranger.
Sunnmøre
Sunnmøre is the southernmost traditional district of the western Norwegian county of Møre og Romsdal. Its main city is Ålesund. The region comprises the municipalities of Giske, Hareid, Herøy, Norddal, Sande, Skodje, Haram, Stordal, Stranda, Sula, Sykkylven, Ulstein, Vanylven, Volda, Ørskog,...
in the municipality of Stranda
Stranda
Stranda is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Stranda....
in Møre og Romsdal
Møre og Romsdal
is a county in the northernmost part of Western Norway. It borders the counties of Sør-Trøndelag, Oppland and Sogn og Fjordane. The county administration is located in Molde, while Ålesund is the largest city.-The name:...
county, in the western part of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It lies at the head of the Geirangerfjord
Geirangerfjord
The Geiranger Fjord is a fjord in the Sunnmøre region of Møre og Romsdal county in Norway. It is in the municipality of Stranda. It is a long branch of the Storfjord...
, which is a branch of the Storfjord
Storfjord (fjord)
The Storfjord is a fjord in the Sunnmøre region, stretching from Hareid in the west to Tafjord and Geiranger east in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The Storfjord system includes the famous Geirangerfjord and Tafjorden, at small village of Stranda it branches off into...
. The nearest city is Ålesund
Ålesund
is a town and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the traditional district of Sunnmøre, and the center of the Ålesund Region. It is a sea port, and is noted for its unique concentration of Art Nouveau architecture....
. Geiranger is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, and has been named the best travel destination
Tourist destination
A tourist destination is a city, town, or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. It may contain one or more tourist attractions and possibly some "tourist traps."...
in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
by Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet is the largest travel guide book and digital media publisher in the world. The company is owned by BBC Worldwide, which bought a 75% share from the founders Maureen and Tony Wheeler in 2007 and the final 25% in February 2011...
. Since 2005, the Geirangerfjord has been listed as a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. The Seven Sisters waterfall
Seven Sisters Waterfall, Norway
The Seven Sisters is the 39th tallest waterfall in Norway. The waterfall consists of seven separate streams, and it is located along the Geirangerfjord in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The waterfall is located just south of the historic Knivsflå farm, across the...
is located just west of Geiranger. Norwegian national road 63
Norwegian national road 63
Norwegian County Road 63 is a Norwegian county road in Møre og Romsdal and a very small part in Oppland county, Norway. It begins at Langvatnet at Norwegian National Road 15 in the municipality of Skjåk in Oppland county and it heads north where it ends at the junction with the E136 near...
passes through the village.
This third biggest cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
port receives 140 to 180 ships during the four-month tourist season. Several hundred thousand people pass through every summer, and tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
is the main business for the 250 people who live there permanently. There are five hotels and over ten camping sites. The tourist season stretches from May to early September; in the off-season the pace and activity are reduced to that of a normal small Norwegian town. Tours of the nearby historic farms of Knivsflå
Knivsflå
Knivsflå is one of a handful of farms along the sides of Geirangerfjord in Stranda, Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Actually it was two farms sharing the location, and they have been inhabited since at least the 1600s. There is also a mountain pasture situated some above the fjord. It is...
and Skageflå
Skageflå
Skageflå is one of a handful of farms on the slopes of the Geirangerfjord in Stranda, Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. Skageflå lies approximately above the fjord. The farm is a 2 to 4 hour walk from Geiranger, and can also be reached with help of a local sightseeing boat...
are available from Geiranger.
Each year in June, the Geiranger – From Fjord to Summit event occurs. It comprises a half marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
run and a bicycle race,
both starting from the sea level at the fjord and ending at the 1497 metres (4,911.4 ft) summit of Mount Dalsnibba
Dalsnibba
Dalsnibba is a mountain in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located at the end of the Geiranger valley, about south of the village of Geiranger and the Geirangerfjord. The lake Djupvatnet lies directly to the southeast of the mountain.Dalsnibba offers a very...
, near the lake Djupvatnet
Djupvatnet
Djupvatnet is a lake in the southern part of the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The lake lies at above sea level. The lake is part of the headwaters of the Otta river system which flows southeast into the lake Breiddalsvatnet and on into Oppland county.The Norwegian...
. Since there is still a lot of snow left in the mountains at that time of year, the race could also be called "From Summer to Winter".
Geiranger is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset which could erode into the fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
. A collapse could cause a tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
that could destroy downtown Geiranger.
