Nestled at the head of the Geirangerfjord is the small village of Geiranger. Despite its tiny year-round population of 250 residents, several hundred thousand tourists visit the village every year. So, what makes this small village in the Stranda Municipality of western Norway so special? The Geirangerfjord The fjord the village shares its name with is arguably one of the most stunning in Norway and quite possibly the world.
Such is its beauty that the fjord has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 20-kilometre-long fjord carves its way through a steep, dramatic mountain landscape where waterfalls are a regular sight. The Seven Sisters and the Wooer are two of the most famous waterfalls, and they are located on opposite sides of the fjord.
Mountains up to 1,700 metres in height are large enough to dwarf the massive cruise ships which regularly make their way up and down the fjord. If a cruise ship isn't your style, then RIB boat and kayak tours are also available throughout the spring and summer. The village itself Aside from the fjord, the village is home to four hotels and ten camping sites.
Visitors can take tours of the former farms of Knivsflå and Skageflå. The farms were abandoned at the end of the 1800s and the beginning of the 1900s due to the risk of avalanches. Aside from the fjord and fjord cruise traffic, the village is a popular stop-off point on road trips in western Norway.
Dalsnibba (also called Geiranger Skywalk), Flydalsjuvet, and Ørnesvingen are all popular lookout points in the local area. Reputation as a tourist trap and fears of over-tourism The village itself is small, as only a couple of hundred people reside there all year round. As the village receives hundreds of thousands of visitors everywhere, a lot of the town caters to tourists.
This is reflected in what's available and the prices of food, drinks and activities. Due to these factors, the village has gained a reputation as a tourist trap. For this reason, many Norwegians try to avoid the village centre itself—even then, frustration is caused by the local roads being swamped with tourist buses and camping vans.
If you aren't put off by the crowds or can visit right at the beginning or end of the main tourism season, then the local scenery is undoubtedly worth seeing regardless of its tourist trap reputation. The pressure tourists put on roads and the surrounding areas has led to fears of overtourism. The village faces being washed away by a tsunami Akerneset mountain in western Norway has been splintering for decades.
Falling masses of rock, breaking off in one big chunk or several pieces over time, will tumble into the fjord, creating large tsunamis. Authorities don't know when such an event could occur, but the site is constantly monitored. The villages of Hellesylt and Geiranger are at the greatest risk of being hit by a tsunami, and this even inspired the 2015 disaster movie Bølgen (The Wave).
READ ALSO: How a mountain split could trigger a tsunami in Norwegian fjord Why it's been chosen as the location for the royal wedding The royal wedding between Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Durek Verrett will be held in the village on August 31st. The destination was chosen by the couple due to its personal significance and natural beauty. "We're so happy to be celebrating our love in the beautiful surroundings of Geiranger.
It means a lot to us to gather our loved ones in a place that is so rich in history and intense nature experiences. Geiranger is the perfect place to embrace our love," Märtha Louise wrote on Instagram when she shared her wedding date. The nearby Skageflå farm is also where King Harald and Queen Sonja celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in 1993, meaning the village has experience hosting prestigious royal events.
Märtha Louise's wedding has raised eyebrows both in Norway and abroad, as the alternative therapy devotees have attracted their fair share of headlines. The princess claims to be a clairvoyant who can speak with angels, while Verett is a "sixth-generation shaman" who has engaged in conspiracy theories. READ ALSO: Why the wedding of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has caused such a stir.
