Randers Fjord

Randers Fjord, Denmark
Randers Fjord, Denmark, Northern Europe
Location	Norddjurs Municipality
Nearest city	Randers
Coordinates	56°36′28.98″N 10°18′44.75″E / 56.6080500°N 10.3124306°E / 56.6080500; 10.3124306
Area	13 square km
Ramsar Wetland
Official name	Randers and Mariager Fjords and The Adjacent Sea
Designated	2 September 1977
Reference no.	150[1]

Randers Fjord is a 30 km (19 mi) long Danish fjord in Northern Europe leading to the sea of Kattegat, between Denmark and Sweden. The fjord is the outlet from Denmark's longest river, Gudenå. The upper 13 km (8.1 mi), starting at the town Randers, looks more like a broad river than a fjord. The lower 17 km (11 mi) have extensive reed plains bordering the shores^[2] To some extent this inhibits the recreational use of and access to the fjord. In some places, the reed beds are harvested for traditional roof thatching. The shallow eastern part of the fjord is known as Grund Fjord, being an extension of Alling Å.

Two small ferries cross Randers Fjord regularly. One is located halfway between Randers and the sea, at the small village of Voer, with a capacity of 3 - 4 cars, crossing the fjord to Mellerup.^[3] The other ferry at Udbyhøj is close to Randers Fjords outlet to the sea. This is a cable ferry with a capacity of 12 cars. At the town of Randers, the first bridge crosses the fjord, at the point where it becomes the river Gudenåen. The fjord is navigable for coasters up to Randers.

Randers Fjord is one of eight lowland fjords on the eastern side of the 250 km long Danish main peninsula, Jutland. Jutland protrudes north from Germany in central Europe. The neighboring fjords to Randers Fjord are, Mariager Fjord, 15 km to the north, and, Horsens Fjord, 50 km to the south.