Leaving Bergen behind, we ventured inside the fjord country on a road towards Sogndal and beyond…
And off we went… through countless tunnels piercing through Norway.
Early morning mists over one of the fjords – note the snow patches in the mountains…
It might be early, but not for this cheery viking dude 🙂
As we were driving along, the lanscape became more and more mountanious with numerous waterfalls…
…and rivers running along the valleys.
Entry to the vast and spectacular West Norway Fjord area – UNESCO’s World Heritage Area
It so fascinating how in Norway, the landscape changes so dramaticly by just driving around the corner
At one time you are driving through narrow glacier valleys…
…which seem neverending…
…and all of a sudden, a fjord appears in front of you.
Lærdal road tunnel – the longest road tunnel in the world!
Architect was clever enugh to break up monotony of driving in a tunnel by creating such galleries every few kilometeres…
which are all “painted” by different colours of light, so you are in constant anticipation of the next colour and the drive through feels like a breeze.
And as soon as you exit the tunnel, the Sognefjord greets you. This is the longest fjord in Norway reaching 205km inland from the ocean.
Bright red Sogndal’s Stedje church with graveyard.
Beside the chuch stands a rune stone from aprox. year 1100. The inscripton says: “King Olav shot between these stones”.