Some summer holiday shots from Norway # part 4

Geiranger is a small tourist town in the western part of Norway in the region called Sunnmøre in the municipality of Stranda. It lies at the head of the Geirangerfjord, which is a branch of the Storfjord. The nearest city is Ålesund. Geiranger is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, and has been named the best travel destination in Scandinavia by Lonely Planet. Since 2005, the Geirangerfjord has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Norway's third biggest cruise-ship port receives 140 - 180 ships during the four-month tourist season. Several hundred thousand people pass through every summer, and tourism is the main business for the 250 people who live there permanently. There are five hotels and over ten camping sites. The tourist season stretches from May to early September; in the off-season the pace and activity are reduced to that of a normal small Norwegian town.
Each year in June, the Geiranger - From Fjord to Summit event occurs. It comprises a half marathon run and a bicycle race, both starting from the sea level at the fjord and ending at the 1,497 m (4,843 ft) summit of Mount Dalsnibba. As there is still a lot of snow left in the mountains at that time of year, the race could also be called From Summer to Winter.
Geiranger is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset which could erode into the fjord. A collapse could cause a tsunami that could destroy downtown Geiranger.

M/S NordNorge

Geirangerfjord - Sightseeing boat

The Geirangerfjord (Geirangerfjorden) is a fjord in the Sunnmøre region, located in the southernmost part of the county Møre og Romsdal in Norway. It is a 15km long branch of the Storfjord (Great Fjord). At the head in the fjord lies the small village of Geiranger.
The fjord is one of Norway's most visited tourist sites and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, jointly with Nærøyfjord, since 2005, although this status is now threatened by the disputed plans to build power lines across the fjord.
The Geirangerfjord is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset which is about to erode into the fjord. A collapse would produce a tsunami, hitting several nearby towns including Geiranger and Hellesylt in about ten minutes.
Along the fjord's sides there lie a number of now abandoned farms. Some restoration has been made by the 'Storfjordens venner' association (see external link below). The most commonly visited among these are Skageflå, Knivsflå, and Blomberg. Skageflå may also be reached on foot from Geiranger, while the others require a boat excursion. The fjord is also host to several impressive waterfalls.
A car ferry, which doubles as a sightseeing trip, is operated by Fjord1. It runs lengthwise along the fjord between the towns of Geiranger and Hellesylt.

The Seven Sisters (no: Syv Søstre, or Syv Systre) is a waterfall consisting of seven separate streams in Geirangerfjord, Norway. The tallest one has a free fall that measures 250 meters.
The legend of the seven sisters is that they dance playfully down the mountain, while the couurtier (a single waterfall opposite of the seven sisters) flirts playfully from across the fjord.

The Seven Sisters (left) and the Suitor (right).

Hellesylt is a small village in the municipality of Stranda, Norway. Its population as of 2007 is about 600. Hellesylt lies at the head of the Sunnylvsfjord, which is a branch of the Storfjord (Great Fjord), and which the more famous Geirangerfjord in turn branches off nearby. In the summertime, thousands of tourists travel through or stay at Hellesylt each day. Most of them take the ferry to Geiranger, which in high season runs every half an hour. The village is surrounded by mountains and valleys.
Hellesylt is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset, which is about to erode into the Geirangerfjord. A collapse would cause a tsunami destroying most of downtown Hellesylt.

Hellesylt Waterfall