Melissa Henry, age 13, of Fargo, N.D., for her question:

HOW WERE THE FJORDS FORMED?

A fjord is an inlet of the sea, or a narrow bay, extending  far inland between steep rocky formations, with side arms branching off at many angles. The walls enclosing a fjord extend far below the surface of the water. The greatest depths are always far from the sea and the mouth is usually shallow.

Geologists cant say with certainty how these high walled sea inlets were formed. The eroding action of rivers for many centuries, followed by polar glaciers that ripped the coastlines, may have helped give fjords their distinctive characteristics.

Later, the sinking portions of the earth itself, flooding the deep valleys near the sea, may have aided in forming the fjords.

The coast of Norway is known for its many fjords. The Sognafjorden, extending inland for about 112 miles, attains a depth of up to 4,000 feet at certain points.

Fjords can also be found in British Columbia, Alaska, Iceland, Greenland, Nova Scotia, Maine, southern Argentina and New Zealand. Fjord can also be spelled "fiord."