Fjord vs. Loch — What's the Difference?

A deep valley that is below sea level and filled with seawater after the glacier retreats.

Integral to the Scottish landscape, used for fishing, boating, and tourism.

Popular among tourists for their stunning and remote natural beauty.

Varies greatly in size and depth, depending on its geological formation.

A long, narrow inlet with steep sides, created by a glacier.

Often the setting for Scottish folklore and historical events.

Characterized by their rugged terrain and extreme depths.

A Scottish Gaelic term for a lake or a sea inlet.

Primarily found in regions with a history of glaciation, such as Scandinavia.

Can be freshwater or connected to the sea, known as sea lochs.

In geology, a fjord or fiord (alternatively fyord) ( (listen)) is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. There are many fjords on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ireland, Kamchatka, the Kerguelen Islands, New Zealand, Norway, Novaya Zemlya, Labrador, Nunavut, Newfoundland, Quebec, Scotland, South Georgia Island, Isla de los Estados, and Washington state.

Loch () is the Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Scots word for a lake or for a sea inlet. It is cognate with the Manx lough, Cornish logh, and one of the Welsh words for lake, llwch.

A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley.

A lake.

A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between steep slopes, especially one shaped by glacial action.

An arm of the sea similar to a fjord.

A long, narrow, deep inlet between cliffs.

A lake.

See Fiord.

A bay or arm of the sea.

A long narrow inlet of the sea between steep cliffs; common in Norway

Alternative form of lohoch

A lake; a bay or arm of the sea.

A kind of medicine to be taken by licking with the tongue; a lambative; a lincture.

A long narrow inlet of the sea in Scotland (especially when it is nearly landlocked)

Scottish word for a lake

While fjords are iconic to Norway, they are also found in other countries with glacial history such as Canada, New Zealand, and Chile.

Fjords often host diverse marine life including fish, seals, and sometimes whales, due to their deep and nutrient-rich waters.

Many lochs have historical significance or are associated with myths, like Loch Ness with Nessie, though not all have such stories.

Yes, their depth and length allow fjords to support commercial shipping routes, making them important for maritime navigation.

Fjords significantly boost local economies through tourism, fishing, and in some cases, hydropower due to their steep falls and abundant water.

Fjords are typically much deeper than lochs, with some fjords reaching depths of over 1,300 meters, whereas lochs vary widely in depth.

Fjords can affect local climates by channeling and intensifying winds, and their cool waters can moderate temperatures of surrounding areas.

Activities like fishing, boating, swimming, and sometimes monster-hunting in the case of Loch Ness are popular.

Non-glacial lochs can be formed by tectonic activity or by the damming of rivers and streams.

Lochs attract nature lovers, hikers, anglers, and those interested in historical sites and Scottish culture.

Yes, several lochs have been sites of historical events, such as Loch Leven, where Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned.

Water quality in fjords can be affected by deeper, colder waters and less light penetration, whereas loch water quality varies more based on surrounding land use and water sources.

In Scandinavian countries, fjords are central to cultural identity, often featuring in literature, folklore, and art as symbols of natural beauty and resilience.

Fjords are characterized by their steep, often rocky sides and deep basins created by glacial movement, whereas sea lochs might be broader and less steep.

Both are affected by climate change, but fjords may be more sensitive to changes in glacier activity and melting ice, affecting their water levels and marine ecosystems.