ABSTRACT
The Sognefjord is unique. It is the deepest fjord in the world and the second longest, with steep climate gradients from coastal to inland districts and from sea level to the mountains. The climate is influenced by Norway’s largest glacier (Jostedalsbreen). Thus there is great variation in natural conditions within a relatively limited area and vegetation types include thermophilic deciduous woodland, coastal heathland and alpine vegetation. The Sognefjord is a typical Norwegian fjord landscape dominated by natural elements such as fjord arms, steep high mountains, screes, canyons, glaciers, rivers, deltas and waterfalls. Great contrasts over short distances are characteristic of the fjord landscape where the mountain-sides rise directly from the fjord to an altitude of 1300–1500 m. The highest mountain in the area is Store Skagastolstind in Jotunheimen (2403 m). The Sognefjord reaches a maximum depth of 1309 m. The area is defined by the 12 municipalities that surround the Sognefjord today: Solund, Gulen, Hyllestad, Hoyanger, Balestrand, Vik, Leikanger, Sogndal, Luster, Aurland, Aardal and Laerdal and covers 10,689 km2. Sognefjord, Norway https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203220894/7aa6ff7a-81da-4c32-a1b2-667754d2d7f1/content/fig5_1_B.jpg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"/>
