The inlet is about 3 km (1.9 mi) long and 700 m (2,300 ft) at the widest point and is shared between Aarhus and Odder Municipality.

The south section of Norsminde Fjord has been drained and is today coastal meadows, marsh or wetlands with rushes, mainly used for grazing animals.

The area has suffered damage from fertilizer runoff and wastewater from Odder and Malling over the years causing issues with algae blooms that displace vegetation and animals.

During mild winters the whooper swan stays in the area from April to November and the flocks here has been recorded to reach some 12,000 birds.

The dominant species at Norsminde Fjord are dabbling ducks, a result of the large number of surface algae caused by previous years nutrient pollution from poor wastewater management and fertilizer runoff.