How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world? (Answer in 150 words)

A fjord is a long, narrow, deep sea inlet occupying a glacially carved valley.

Formation

1. Valley glaciers descend from high mountains and erode their beds through abrasion and plucking.
2. They create a U-shaped trough, often below present sea level, with steep walls and a deeper inner basin.
3. After deglaciation, the sea floods the trough; a rock threshold may remain near its mouth because erosion is weaker there.

Scenic character

• Near-vertical cliffs rise directly from calm, deep water, producing dramatic relief.
• Waterfalls, hanging valleys, snowfields, glaciers and temperate vegetation create strong visual contrasts.
• Long sheltered channels reflect mountains and support distinctive ecosystems and settlements.

Norway, New Zealand, Chile and Canada illustrate this interaction of glacial erosion, tectonics and marine inundation.

physical geography, glacial landforms, fjords, coastal geomorphology