The Hardangerfjord () is the fifth longest fjord in the world and the second longest fjord in Norway. It is located in the Hardanger region of Vestland county in western Norway. The fjord stretches from the Atlantic Ocean into the mountainous interior of Norway along the Hardangervidda plateau. The innermost point of the fjord reaches the town of Odda.
Location
The Hardangerfjord starts at the Atlantic Ocean about south of the city of Bergen. Here the fjord heads in a northeasterly direction between the island of Bømlo and the mainland. It passes by the larger islands of Stord, Tysnesøya, and Varaldsøy on the north/west side and the Folgefonna peninsula on the south/east side. Once it is surrounded by the mainland, it begins to branch off into smaller fjords that reach inwards towards the grand Hardangervidda mountain plateau. The longest branch of the Hardangerfjord is Sørfjorden, which cuts south about from the main fjord. Its maximum depth is more than just outside the village of Norheimsund in the middle of the fjord. Later the fjord gave birth to a large influx of tourism to Norway, and in 1875 Thomas Cook started weekly cruise departures from London to the Hardangerfjord, to view its spectacular nature, glaciers, and grand waterfalls. Soon after this, many of the major waterfalls became hydroelectric power sources for large industries in fjord settlements such as the town of Odda.
Economy
Hardangerfjord has recently seen an increase in tourism. New infrastructure was built for travelers and the location has once again become an industry for the local communities along the fjord.
The fjord has good conditions for fish farming. Fish farms yearly produce more than 40,000 tons of salmon and rainbow trout which makes the Hardangerfjord one of four major fish farming regions in the world.
Hardangerfjord's melt-water is also bottled at source to form the product Isklar, sold worldwide.
Geography
thumb|Hardangerfjord at [[Norheimsund]]
thumb|Hardangerfjord sunset
There are many fjord arms that branch off of the main Hardangerfjord. There are also certain sections of the main fjord that have special names. Below is a list of the sections of the fjord and the arms that branch off them.