| A fjord (also spelled fiord) is a narrow inlet of the sea situated between cliffs or steep slopes. Fjords exist where glaciers once formed on mountains bordering coastal areas. The glaciers carved out glacial valleys downslope. Later, when temperatures warmed, the glaciers melted and the sea level rose, flooding the valleys. Fjords frequently exceed 300 m (1,000 ft) below sea level in depth, and they may be more than 6 km (4 mi) wide and more than 161 km (100 mi) long. If the water of a fjord were drained, a typical glacier-carved U-shaped valley with steep rock walls would be revealed. |
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