Storfjord (fjord)
Encyclopedia
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...
in the Sunnmøre
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,...
region, stretching from Hareid
Hareid
Hareid is a village and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Hareid...
in the west to Tafjord
Tafjord
Tafjord is a village in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located at the end of the Tafjorden, about southeast of Sylte, and just west of the borders of Reinheimen National Park...
and Geiranger
Geiranger
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...
east 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, 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...
. The Storfjord system includes the famous 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...
and Tafjorden
Tafjorden
Tafjorden is a branch of the Norddalsfjorden/Storfjorden in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is located southeast of Sylte, the municipal center of Norddal...
, at small village 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....
it branches off into Sunnylvsfjorden
Sunnylvsfjorden
The Sunnylvsfjord is a branch of the Storfjord in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The Geirangerfjord branches off to the west from the Sunnylvsfjord. The long Sunnylvsfjord splits from the Norddalsfjorden just south of the village of Helsem. The village of...
-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...
en to the right and Norddalsfjorden
Norddalsfjorden
Norddalsfjorden is a branch of Storfjorden in Norddal and Stranda municipalities in the Sunnmøre region of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is long, when you include the Tafjorden that stretches further east, it is in total....
-Tafjorden
Tafjorden
Tafjorden is a branch of the Norddalsfjorden/Storfjorden in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is located southeast of Sylte, the municipal center of Norddal...
to the left. The name literally means the big or great fjord, indicating that this is a long fjord and in fact the main fjord in this region. Stretching about 110 kilometres (68.4 mi), Storfjord is the 5th longest fjord in Norway. The Storfjord is a dominant topographical feature in the Sunnmøre
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,...
region as it cuts the region in two parts that are only connected by ferry. The deepest point in the fjord is 679 metres (2,227.7 ft) near the village of Dyrkorn.
The landscape around Storfjorden is typical for Western Norway. The mouth the fjord is surrounded by islands with mountains reaching 500 to 800 m (1,640.4 to 2,624.7 ) above sea level. Further to the east there are higher mountains. At Tafjord and Geiranger, the mountains climb to about 1500 to 1800 m (4,921.3 to 5,905.5 ) above sea level. Most of the Storfjord has characteristically steep or very steep shores, interrupted by several gentle valleys stretching up to 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) into the hinterland. In this way, the Storfjord system is, along with the Nordfjord
Nordfjord
Nordfjord is a fjord and a traditional district in the northern part of Sogn og Fjordane county in Western Norway. The district comprises the municipalities of Selje, Vågsøy, Bremanger, Eid, Gloppen, Hornindal, and Stryn. Nordfjord covers an area of and is home to a population of approximately...
, Sognefjord
Sognefjord
The Sognefjord is the largest fjord in Norway, and the second longest in the world. Located in Sogn og Fjordane county, it stretches inland to the small village of Skjolden...
, and Hardangerfjord
Hardangerfjord
With a length of , the Hardangerfjord in the county of Hordaland in Norway is the third largest fjord in the world and the second largest in Norway. The surrounding district is called Hardanger....
systems, the major samples of the typical west coast fjords highly praised by visitors.
On the steep shores of the fjord, there are several historic mountain farms such as Ytste Skotet
Ytste Skotet
Ytste Skotet is located in the municipality of Stordal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is a complete, preserved historic farmyard and museum at Skotet on steep shores of the Storfjord in Sunnmøre. The farm is located across the fjord from Dyrkorn. Storfjordens Venner owns Ytste Skotet and...
in Stordal
Stordal
Stordal 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 Stordal. The historic farm of Ytste Skotet lies along the Storfjord in the western part of the municipality.-General information:Stordal...
and Me-Åkernes
Me-Åkernes
Me-Åkernes or Midtre Åkernes is a deserted fjord farm along the Sunnylvsfjord in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located northeast of Hellesylt...
, 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...
, and 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...
in 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....
.
Branches and sections
from the coast to the inland- Mouth
- Sulafjorden
- Vartdalsfjorden
- Outer Storfjord
- HjørundfjordenHjørundfjordenHjørundfjorden is a fjord in the traditional district of Sunnmøre in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The long fjord is an arm of the larger Storfjord that stretches south from Ålesund...
- Norangsfjorden
- Storfjorden i Ørsta
- SykkylvsfjordenSykkylvsfjordenSykkylvsfjorden is a fjord in the municipality of Sykkylven in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is a branch off of the Storfjord. The villages of Sykkylven, Ikornnes, and Straumgjerde lie along the shores of the fjord. The Sykkylven Bridge crosses the fjord between Sykkylven and...
- Hjørundfjorden
- Inner Storfjord
- NorddalsfjordenNorddalsfjordenNorddalsfjorden is a branch of Storfjorden in Norddal and Stranda municipalities in the Sunnmøre region of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is long, when you include the Tafjorden that stretches further east, it is in total....
(16 kilometres (9.9 mi))- TafjordenTafjordenTafjorden is a branch of the Norddalsfjorden/Storfjorden in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is located southeast of Sylte, the municipal center of Norddal...
(8 kilometres (5 mi))
- Tafjorden
- SunnylvsfjordenSunnylvsfjordenThe Sunnylvsfjord is a branch of the Storfjord in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The Geirangerfjord branches off to the west from the Sunnylvsfjord. The long Sunnylvsfjord splits from the Norddalsfjorden just south of the village of Helsem. The village of...
(26 kilometres (16.2 mi)) - GeirangerfjordGeirangerfjordThe 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...
en (15 kilometres (9.3 mi))
- Norddalsfjorden
Transportation
Several car ferries cross the fjord:- HareidHareidHareid is a village and municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Hareid...
e-Sulesund from HareidlandetHareidlandetHareidlandet is an island in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located in the municipalities of Hareid and Ulstein. The island has a population of 11,687. The island is mentioned by Snorri in his reports about the Battle of Hjörungavágr in 986 where Haakon Jarl defeated Bue Digre and the...
to Sula across Sulafjorden - Leirvåg-Festøya-Hundeidvik from Leirvåg on Sula to Festøya on Hundeidvik on the south bank at the mouth of HjørundfjordenHjørundfjordenHjørundfjorden is a fjord in the traditional district of Sunnmøre in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The long fjord is an arm of the larger Storfjord that stretches south from Ålesund...
- LeknesLeknesis a town and administrative centre of municipality Vestvågøy in the county of Nordland in North Norway. The town is situated in the geographical middle of Lofoten, approximately 68 km west of Svolvær and 65 km east of Å...
-SæbøSæbø, Møre og RomsdalSæbø is a village in the municipality of Ørsta in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Hjørundfjorden in the Bondalen valley. It is about north of the mountain Skårasalen...
in Hjørundfjorden - Aursnes-Magerholm from Aursnes in SykkylvenSykkylvenSykkylven is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Aure. Other villages include Ikornnes, Straumgjerde, and Tusvik.-General information:...
to Magerholm in ÅlesundÅlesundis 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....
, part of road 60. - StrandaStrandaStranda 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....
-Liabygda from Stranda in the west to Liabygda in the east, part of road 650. - EidsdalEidsdalEidsdal is a village and valley in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located along the south side of the Norddalsfjorden, about southwest of Sylte. Eidsdal has approximately 400 inhabitants....
-Linge across NorddalsfjordenNorddalsfjordenNorddalsfjorden is a branch of Storfjorden in Norddal and Stranda municipalities in the Sunnmøre region of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The fjord is long, when you include the Tafjorden that stretches further east, it is in total....
, part of Norwegian County Road 63. - GeirangerGeirangerGeiranger 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...
-HellesyltHellesyltHellesylt is a small village in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village lies at the head of the Sunnylvsfjord, which is a branch of the Storfjord, and which the more famous Geirangerfjord in turn branches off nearby...
a tourist route along the GeirangerfjordGeirangerfjordThe 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...
in summer.
Due to the steep slopes along the shores, road construction is challenging and overland road transport is often limited to valleys. On the Northern shore of Storfjorden there is continuous roads from Tafjord to island Sula by roads 63, 650, E39
European route E39
E 39 is the designation of a 1330 km long north-south road in Norway and Denmark, running from Klett just south of Trondheim to Aalborg, via Orkanger, Vinjeøra, Halsa ... Straumsnes, Krifast, Batnfjordsøra, Molde ... Vestnes, Skodje, Ålesund ... Volda ... Nordfjordeid ... Sandane, Førde,...
, 656, 60 and 61. On the southern shore, there are only short sections of roads along the fjord itself.
During summer the Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten or Hurtigruta is a Norwegian passenger and freight line with daily sailings along Norway's western and northern coast. Sometimes referred to in English as Norwegian Coastal Express, Hurtigruten ships sail almost the entire length of the country, completing the roundtrip journey in 11...
line visits Storfjorden and Geirangerfjorden regularly.
Municipalities and villages
- Sula
- Solevåg
- ÅlesundÅlesundis 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....
- Vegsund
- Emblem
- SykkylvenSykkylvenSykkylven is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Aure. Other villages include Ikornnes, Straumgjerde, and Tusvik.-General information:...
- AureAure, SykkylvenAure is a village which is the administrative center of the municipality of Sykkylven in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the Sykkylvsfjorden, just north of the Sykkylven Bridge. It is about north of Straumgjerde and east of Ikornnes.The village has a population of...
- IkornnesIkornnesIkornnes is a village in the municipality of Sykkylven in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located along the Sykkylvsfjorden, about east of Tusvik, north of Straumgjerde, and about west of the municipal center of Aure via the Sykkylven Bridge....
- Aure
- SkodjeSkodjeSkodje is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is of the municipality is the village of Skodje...
- ValleValle, Møre og RomsdalValle is a village in the municipality of Skodje in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located on the eastern end of the island of Oksenøya, along the Storfjord. Valle sits along the / highway, about south of the municipal center of Skodje, east of Ålesund, and west of Sjøholt in...
- Valle
- ØrskogØrskogØrskog is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is part of the Sunnmøre region. The administrative centre is the village of Sjøholt. European Route E39 and European Route E136 runs through the municipality, connecting the towns of Ålesund and Molde.-General information:Ørskog was...
- SjøholtSjøholtSjøholt is a village and the administrative centre of the municipality of Ørskog in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located along the northern shore of the Storfjord, east of Skodje, along the / highway. Stordal is located about to the south, through several tunnels...
- Sjøholt
- StordalStordalStordal 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 Stordal. The historic farm of Ytste Skotet lies along the Storfjord in the western part of the municipality.-General information:Stordal...
- StrandaStrandaStranda 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....
- StrandaStrandaStranda 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....
- Liabygda
- GeirangerGeirangerGeiranger 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...
- HellesyltHellesyltHellesylt is a small village in the municipality of Stranda in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village lies at the head of the Sunnylvsfjord, which is a branch of the Storfjord, and which the more famous Geirangerfjord in turn branches off nearby...
- Stranda
- NorddalNorddalNorddal is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It covers the easternmost part of the Sunnmøre region along the border with Oppland county...
- ValldalValldalValldal is a valley in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal, Norway. It is located north of the Norddalsfjorden. The village of Sylte is located at the end of the valley along the fjord...
/SylteSylte, NorddalSylte is a village and the municipal center of the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is situated at the southern end of the Valldalen valley along the shore of the Norddalsfjorden near the mouth of the Valldøla river, just west of the entrance to the Tafjorden. The ... - EidsdalEidsdalEidsdal is a village and valley in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It is located along the south side of the Norddalsfjorden, about southwest of Sylte. Eidsdal has approximately 400 inhabitants....
- NorddalNorddalNorddal is a municipality in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It covers the easternmost part of the Sunnmøre region along the border with Oppland county...
- TafjordTafjordTafjord is a village in the municipality of Norddal in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. The village is located at the end of the Tafjorden, about southeast of Sylte, and just west of the borders of Reinheimen National Park...
- Valldal