Ofotfjord

Ofotfjorden / Narvik Fjord
View of the fjord
Diagram of the fjord and locations from the Battle of Narvik
Location	Nordland, Nordland
Coordinates	68°25′45″N 16°28′58″E / 68.4292°N 16.4827°E / 68.4292; 16.4827Coordinates: 68°25′45″N 16°28′58″E / 68.4292°N 16.4827°E / 68.4292; 16.4827
Basin countries	Norway
Max. length	78 kilometres (48 mi)
Max. depth	553 metres (1,814 ft)
Settlements	Narvik

Ofotfjord (Norwegian: Ofotfjorden) or Narvik Fjord is a fjord in Nordland county, Norway. It is an inlet of the Norwegian Sea, located about 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of the Arctic Circle. The 78-kilometre (48 mi) long Ofotfjorden is Norway's 12th longest fjord and it is also the 18th deepest, with a maximum depth of 553 metres (1,814 ft). In the English language and in many historical documents, this fjord is often called the "Narvik Fjord", since the town of Narvik is located on the inner shores of the fjord.

The fjord is surrounded by mountains, some reaching 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), and even 1,700 metres (5,600 ft) in Skjomen, where the Frostisen glacier can be seen. The only larger lowland area is on parts of the northern shore, around Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes, although there are smaller areas near the fjord and in narrow valleys (for instance, the Narvik peninsula, where the harbour and city centre of Narvik is located).

The mountains are covered by forest below elevations of 500 metres (1,600 ft), birch being the most common tree, but pine and aspen are also common. The bedrock around the fjord consist of both hard minerals like gneiss and granite as well as softer minerals rich in lime; there is a dolomite quarry in Ballangen (photo).

The surrounding Ofoten district is named after the Ofotfjord (Old Norse: Ófóti). The meaning of the first element is unknown and the last element is derived from the Old Norse word fótr which means "foot". The oldest form of the name could have been Úffóti. In this case, the first element is úfr which means "Eurasian eagle-owl". The three inner branches of the Ofotfjord might have been compared with the three claws of an owl.