Nærøyfjord

Nærøyfjord is a fjord in Vestland county, western Norway. It is a branch of the Sognefjord and runs inland from the main fjord, with the village of Gudvangen near its mouth where it opens into the Sognefjord. The fjord is renowned for its dramatic scenery: steep mountains rise directly from the water, with peaks reaching around 1,800 meters, and the width narrows to only a few hundred meters in places. Nærøyfjord is approximately 18 kilometers long.

In 2005, Nærøyfjord, together with the nearby Aurlandsfjord, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the West Norwegian Fjords. The site is valued for its exceptionally dramatic alpine landscape, intact natural environment, and cultural landscapes that include traditional farms along the valley.

Tourism and access: The fjord is a popular destination for boat cruises, often departing from Gudvangen or Flam, and is part of the common Bergen–Oslo tourist route. It is also connected to the Flåm Railway, which runs from Flåm up to the mountain station at Myrdal, providing access to the surrounding scenery.

Conservation and context: As part of the UNESCO designation, the area is protected to preserve its natural beauty, geology, and cultural landscape, with emphasis on sustainable tourism and limited development to maintain the integrity of the landscape.