These two words have the same meaning, but are called by different names. In both cases they refer to a narrow inlet of water forming a long narrow lake. How are they called in Norway and in Scotland?

While they may appear similar to the casual observer, the terms for these dramatic bodies of water are rooted in the distinct languages and histories of their locations. In Norway, a long, narrow inlet of the sea, flanked by steep cliffs, is called a fjord. This word comes from Old Norse, *fjǫrðr*, which meant a place used for passage and ferrying. This makes sense, as these waterways provided crucial travel routes through the mountainous landscape for early settlers and Vikings. These stunning natural features were carved out by massive glaciers during the ice ages, which created deep, U-shaped valleys that were later flooded by the sea as the ice retreated.

In Scotland, the equivalent geographical feature is known as a loch. This is the Scottish Gaelic word for a body of water, which can refer to either a freshwater lake or a sea inlet. Similar to their Norwegian counterparts, many of Scotland's lochs, particularly the sea lochs found on the west coast, were also formed by the immense power of glaciers scouring the landscape. Therefore, a sea loch is essentially the Scottish name for the same type of landform that is called a fjord in Norway. The difference in terminology is a direct reflection of the region's unique Celtic heritage, just as "fjord" reflects Scandinavia's Norse history.