Limfjord

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A bridge across Limfjorden linking (Aalborg and Nørresundby)

Location map of Limfjorden in Denmark

The Limfjord (in Danish: Limfjorden) is a shallow sound in Denmark that separates the island of Vendsyssel-Thy from the rest of Jutland Peninsula. It extends from Thyborøn Channel on the North Sea to Hals on the Kattegat. It is approximately 180 kilometres long and of an irregular shape with several bays, narrowings, and islands, most notably Mors. It is deepest at Hvalpsund (24 metres). Its main port is Aalborg,^[1] where a railway and a road bridge are built across Limfjorden to Nørresundby, while motorway E45 passes it through a tunnel to the east.

Limfjorden was first connected with the North sea on February 3, 1825 when a flood pierced an opening, the so-called Agger Channel, in the north of a 13 km long and less than 1 km wide isthmus, the Agger Tange. This isthmus had until then linked Vendsyssel-Thy with the rest of Jutland. In 1862, another flood pierced another opening, the Thyborøn Channel, through the remainder of Agger Tange (see satellite image). Agger Channel was continuously filling with sand, and was eventually closed in 1877.

Limfjorden is famous for its tasty mussels (Mytilus edulis) [1]. Gourmets appreciate its oysters which are considered to be of extraordinary size and quality.

[edit] Disambiguation

Limfjorden should not be confused with the Lim bay on the western coast of Istria, Croatia, between Vrsar and Rovinj.^[2] There are two powerline crossings of Limfjord ( Limfjorden Overhead powerline crossing 1 and Limfjorden Overhead powerline crossing 2).

[edit] References

^ The preferred official spelling has been Ålborg since the Danish spelling reform of 1948. This is disputed, since Aalborg is excepted from that reform and continues to prefer spelling with the Aa.
^ This 10 kilometres long ria, dug by the river Pazinčica, is often called "Limski Fjord", or also "Lim fjord". The Croats call it Limski zaljev or Limski kanal ("Lim Channel") and grow fish and oysters there.