What is the largest fjord in the world?

The largest fjord system in the world is Scoresby Sund, also called Scoresby Sound, on Greenland’s eastern coast. Its branching waterways cover roughly 38,000 square kilometres, making it an immense network rather than a single narrow inlet.

Scoresby Sund’s main body extends about 110 kilometres inland, while its longest branches reach roughly 340 kilometres from the coast. Some sections descend to around 1,450 metres, and the system’s tree-like shape was carved by glacial erosion during repeated ice ages. Today, glaciers, sea ice, and drifting icebergs dominate much of the surrounding landscape.

The name honours English explorer William Scoresby, who mapped the area in detail in 1822. “Sund” is a Scandinavian word associated with a strait or narrow waterway. A common mix-up is Norway’s Sognefjord, which is Europe’s longest and deepest fjord, but Scoresby Sund is generally recognized as the world’s largest fjord system by overall scale.