The two fjords in this picture are Barry Arm on the left and College Fiord (the spelling favored by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names) on the right, in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
A fjord generally has a U-shaped profile with deep water near shore. The glacier that forms the fjord leaves the valley walls in an oversteepened condition that is prone to landslides. The mouth of a fjord may have a moraine across it that creates a barrier to ships. One notorious Alaskan fjord, Lituya Bay, is one of the most dangerous places in the world for these and other reasons. But fjords are also uncommonly beautiful, making them tourist destinations especially in Europe, Alaska and Chile.
