Fjords and Submerged Valleys of Europe. — Upha7)i. 103 
' Fjords of Norway, 
Length. Width. Maximum 
Miles* Miles, depth. Feet.* 
Christiania fjord 50 1-8 1,380 
Stavanger fjord 30 0.5-5 2,350 
Lyse fjord 2}, 0.3-1.2 1,414 
This tributary of the Stavanger fjord is inclosed by precipitous 
cliffs 2,000 to 3,300 feet high. 
Hardanger fjord, with the Bommel and Sor 
fjords 100 0.5-4 2,195 
Sogne fjord, with Lyster fjord 112 1-4 4,080 
The depth of the Sogne fjord, the longest in Norway, at the moutli 
of Aurlands fjord, 75 miles from the outer coast, is 3,875 feet; and 
this southern branch fjord, 16 miles long and about one mile wide, lying 
between precipitous rock walls 3,000 to 4,000 feet high, has a depth 
of 1,535 feet at the mouth of its magnificent tributary, the Nsero fjord, 
which is about ten miles long and varies in width from a tenth to three- 
fifths of a mile. 
Nord fjord 60 1-2 2,100 
Stor fjord, with Geiranger, Sunelvs, and 
Sule fjord 60 0.5-3 i,495 
Molde or Romsdals fjord 35 1-5 1,440 
Trondhjem fjord, with Beitstad fjord.... 90 0.7-8.0 1,895 
Ranen fjord, lat, 66 degrees 55 1-3 i,450 
Vest fjord, with Ofoten fjord 80 2-20 2,090 
Alten fjord, with Stjern sound, to the outer 
coast line 55 2-10 1,375 
Varanger fjord 35 3-12 1,340 
It is noteworthy that several of these fjords are of nearly 
the same depth, from 1,380 to 1,495 f^^t, which, I think, repre- 
sents approximately the maximum Pliocene elevation of the 
country, during the later part of the time of formation of the 
submerged coastal plain. Numerous channels in that plain, 
which probably were its Pliocene river valleys carrying the 
drainage of the central highlands to the coast of that time, 
sink 100 to 500 feet below the adjoining sea bed. Sound- 
ings to the bottom of these submarine valleys range from 500 
to 1,420 feet, agreeing well with this estimate of 1J400 or 1.500 
feet as the maximum amount of the Late Tertiary elevation. 
These channels are situated far offshore, with no prominent 
higher tracts so near as to possibly account for exceptionally 
♦Distances are given in English statute miles, and depths in English 
feet. The Norwegian foot equals 1.0294 of English measure. 
