fjordartig

Fjordartig is a term used to describe features that resemble or are characteristic of fjords. Fjords themselves are long, narrow, and deep inlets of the sea between high cliffs, typically formed by glacial erosion. Therefore, something described as "fjordartig" would share these qualities: a steep-sided, submerged valley, often with a U-shaped cross-section, that opens into a larger body of water such as an ocean or sea. This term is not a formal geological classification but rather a descriptive adjective.

The concept of fjordartig can be applied to various geological or geographical formations. For instance, a lake with a similar steep-sided, elongated shape and depth might be considered fjordartig. Similarly, submerged features on the seafloor that exhibit the characteristic morphology of a fjord, even if not directly connected to a present-day glacial origin, could be described as fjordartig. The term emphasizes the visual and structural resemblance to a classic fjord environment. It suggests a geological history involving significant erosion, often by ice, and subsequent inundation. The presence of deep water and steep, often rocky, walls are key attributes implied by the adjective.