We often hear that you have to have seen Norway’s fjords at least once in your lifetime.
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00:00 Welcome to Bergen, Norway.
00:02 The city is known as the heart of the fjords
00:05 and is used by many tourists as a base
00:07 to explore Norway's natural wonders.
00:09 Today, I'm taking you with me on a stunning fjord cruise.
00:12 All of this is just unbelievable.
00:16 We'll look at Bergen's most Instagram-famous spot,
00:20 find out what a fjord is,
00:22 and show you some of the most stunning nature
00:24 you have ever seen.
00:25 When you search for images of Bergen,
00:28 you'll discover Bryggen,
00:30 a picturesque wharf with colorful wooden buildings
00:33 and historic brick houses
00:35 with connections to the Hanseatic League,
00:37 a powerful trading alliance from the Middle Ages.
00:39 The Hanseatic Wharf of Bryggen is the city's oldest area.
00:44 It used to be a key center for trade
00:46 between Norway and Europe,
00:47 and today it's a vibrant area full of shops,
00:50 museums, galleries, and restaurants.
00:52 How cute are these wooden houses?
00:55 I don't know if you can see it,
00:57 but these houses are so old that they're slanted.
00:59 I am right at Bergen's harbor area,
01:09 where various cruise options and departure points
01:12 make it an accessible way for tourists
01:14 to experience Norway's iconic fjords.
01:16 Today, I'm meeting with Arild from Guided Fjord Tours,
01:25 who will be joining me.
01:27 You know, the Germans had a monopoly here
01:29 from about 1350 up to the 1700s.
01:34 The German Hanseatic merchants are the reason
01:38 why Bergen's port became such an important hub
01:41 for trade and fishing.
01:42 Today, it is Norway's second largest seaport
01:45 and one of the most popular cruise destinations
01:47 in Northern Europe.
01:48 There are plenty of offers,
01:51 including cruises that last several days
01:54 and cost hundreds of euros,
01:56 but I recommend this smaller four-hour trip
01:58 to see the fjords.
02:00 It is available year-round for 750 Norwegian crowns
02:03 or about 63 euros per person.
02:06 So, could you tell me, what exactly is a fjord anyway?
02:09 - A fjord is an opening in the bedrock.
02:14 It is filled with water,
02:16 and it's been created by ice, sand, boulders, stones,
02:21 all types of sediments,
02:23 but it differs.
02:25 The shape, like a U, is usually created
02:28 by the heavy ice cap.
02:31 About 10 to 12,000 years ago,
02:33 whole Norway was covered by ice.
02:36 - This catamaran is taking us up
02:39 the 27-kilometer Osterfjord in the northeast of Bergen,
02:43 one of the most popular fjord tours.
02:46 The fjord is surrounded by steep mountains,
02:48 lush greenery, and cascading waterfalls.
02:51 Here, you can really take in the varied landscapes
02:54 of western Norway's fjords.
02:55 - This fjord is like a U.
02:59 You can just imagine the bottom of it.
03:01 - Breathtaking, but the highlight is still yet to come.
03:06 - This part here that we're going through
03:10 is like the narrowest part of the tour,
03:14 and it's called the Mostraumund Strait.
03:16 - In a few seconds,
03:19 we are about to see something really impressive.
03:22 The Mostraumund Waterfall.
03:48 Now, we are heading back to Bergen the same way
03:50 and can really absorb the majestic surroundings once more.
03:53 All of this is just unbelievable, stunning.
04:01 I love it.
04:08 (upbeat music)
04:11 (laughing)
04:13 (upbeat music)