Icefjord

An icefjord is a fjord in which glacial ice from a tidewater glacier predominates or enters the sea. It forms when glaciers carve U-shaped valleys inland; as the glacier reaches the coast, seawater floods the valley and ice from the glacier calves into the fjord, creating icebergs and floating ice. Seasonal and wind-driven processes influence the distribution of ice within the inlet.

The presence of large ice masses shapes the local environment and can affect navigation and safety. Icefjords host specialized ecosystems and are important sites for glaciological research, oceanography, and climate studies. In warmer months, calved icebergs drift through the fjord and interact with currents, while in winter sea ice may extend across the fjord mouth, modifying habitat and accessibility.

Notable example: Ilulissat Icefjord, located near the town of Ilulissat in western Greenland, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 2004. It is known for the actively calving front of the Ilulissat Glacier and the large icebergs that populate Disko Bay. The area is a focal point for Arctic research and tourism, illustrating the dynamic relationship between glaciers, ice, and coastal ecosystems. While Ilulissat is among the most famous, icefjords occur in other polar and subpolar regions where glacial calving feeds the sea with ice.