The Ranfjorden (or just ''Ranfjord'') is a
fjord
In physical geography, a fjord or fiord () is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Förden and East Jutland Fjorde, Germany, ...
in the
Helgeland district of
Nordland county,
Norway
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...
. The largest part of the fjord is in the municipality of
Rana, but the fjord also passes through the municipalities of
Hemnes
Hemnes is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Korgen. Other villages include Bjerka, Bleikvasslia, Hemnesberget, and Sund ...
,
Vefsn
Vefsn ( sma, Vaapste) is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Mosjøen (population: 9,843). Some of the notable villages in Vefsn i ...
,
Leirfjord
Leirfjord is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Leland. Other villages in Leirfjord include Bardalssjøen and Sundøy. The ...
,
Nesna
Nesna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesna. Other villages in Nesna include Handnesneset, Husby, Saura, and Vi ...
, and
Dønna. The
Ranelva
Ranelva is a long river in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. It is one of the longest rivers in Nordland county. The catchment area of the river is . Before the power stations of ''Reinforsen'' (1925) and Langvatnet (1964) we ...
river meets the Ranfjord in at the town of
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana () is a city, and the administrative centre of the municipality of Rana, in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Helgeland region of Nordland, just south of the Arctic Circle. Some of the city's suburbs include Båsmoen and Yt ...
at the innermost part of the fjord. It then flows to the west for about to where it meets the sea along the border of
Dønna and
Nesna
Nesna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesna. Other villages in Nesna include Handnesneset, Husby, Saura, and Vi ...
municipalities.
The inner part of the fjord is lush, forested, and more heavily populated. The western parts of the fjord are narrow with steep sides and that area has few inhabitants. There is a narrow
strait that connects to the Sørfjorden and Elsfjorden at the village of
Hemnesberget. Two large rivers flow into the fjord:
Ranelva
Ranelva is a long river in the municipality of Rana in Nordland county, Norway. It is one of the longest rivers in Nordland county. The catchment area of the river is . Before the power stations of ''Reinforsen'' (1925) and Langvatnet (1964) we ...
and
Røssåga. The
European route E6 highway follows the part of the southern coast of the fjord on its way to
Mo i Rana
Mo i Rana () is a city, and the administrative centre of the municipality of Rana, in Nordland county, Norway. It is located in the Helgeland region of Nordland, just south of the Arctic Circle. Some of the city's suburbs include Båsmoen and Yt ...
.
Gallery
File:Ranfjorden utløp.JPG, The mouth of Ranfjord near Nesna
Nesna is a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Helgeland traditional region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Nesna. Other villages in Nesna include Handnesneset, Husby, Saura, and Vi ...
File:Beginning of Ranfjord B.JPG, Near Ytteren in Rana
File:Kvitbergan 08.JPG, Kvitbergan, Ranfjorden in the background
File:Ranfjorden north 05.JPG, View between Båsmoen and Alteren in Rana
File:Ranfjorden.JPG, View towards east into Ranfjord
File:Moholmen 20070416 24.jpg, View towards the old part of the city sentre
References
Fjords of Nordland
Rana, Norway
Hemnes
Vefsn
Leirfjord
Nesna
Dønna
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