A fjord is a long, narrow inlet of the sea with steep sides, formed when a glacier carves a valley and the sea later fills it. In simple terms, it is a drowned glacial valley, often deep, dramatic, and cliff-lined.

Quick Scoop

  • Fjords are usually created by glacial erosion, not by rivers.
  • They often have a shallow mouth and a deeper inner basin.
  • Norway is especially famous for fjords, but they also exist in places like Canada and Chile.

Easy Picture

Think of a glacier slowly carving a huge U-shaped valley over thousands of years. After the ice melts, seawater rushes in and fills that valley, leaving a fjord behind.

One-line definition

A fjord is a deep, narrow sea inlet with steep sides, formed by glaciers and filled by the sea.

If you want, I can also give you a kid-friendly version or a labeled diagram- style explanation.