Trollhabe Canal

Lock in the Trollhätte Canal (Sweden)

The Trollhätte Canal ( Swedish Trollhätte Canal ) in the Swedish province of Västergötland creates a connection between Lake Vänern and the Kattegat . Around 11 km of the waterway that follows the Göta älv has been expanded and made navigable with bypass channels and lock systems . Together with the Göta Canal , the Trollhätte Canal forms a 390 km long waterway across Sweden to the Baltic Sea .

history

The first plans for a navigable waterway from Vänern to the North Sea date from the 1520s. The first lock was put into operation at Lilla Edet in 1607 . The next steps in the expansion concerned the upper reaches of the Göta älv and were only completed in 1800. The greatest difficulties were presented by the Trollhättan rapids , where the Göta älv has a fall height of 32 meters.

Construction of the locks from 1800 (drawing around 1798)

Upper section of the locks from 1800

Middle section of the locks from 1844 (picture around 1880)

A lock in the new locks from 1916 (picture from 2011)

Upper section of the Trollhättan lock system, on the left the lock staircase from 1844, on the right the upper chamber from 1906

You can still marvel at three generations of locks in Trollhättan today. The first locks were built into the rock between 1793 and 1800. At that time they were considered the 8th wonder of the world . As early as 1832, however, these locks were too small, as the Göta Canal , which had now opened, was designed for ships up to 7 m wide and 30 m long. This is why the “middle” locks were built by 1844, of exactly the same design and size as those of the Göta Canal. They consist of 2 lower, 4 middle and 3 upper lock chambers. Both lock stairs can still be seen, but the driveways are partially walled up and can no longer be passed.

The current locks for ships up to 88 m in length were opened in 1916. They run south of the lock staircase from 1844. The lock staircase consists of 3 lower and one upper chambers, which are separated by a small artificial lake, which still comes from the lock staircase from 1844.

Technical specifications

The canal is 82 km long, has six locks and overcomes a height difference of 44 m. It is approved for ships up to 88 m long and 13.2 m wide with a draft of 5.4 m. The mast height is limited to 27 m because of the 12 bridges, so that the canal is particularly suitable for recreational boaters. The Canal Museum in Trollhättan exhibits the history of the canal.

Today more than 20,000 ships pass through the canal every year and 3.5 million tons of goods are transported on it.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ According to the display board

Web links

Commons : Trollhätte Canal  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Description with card

Coordinates: 58 ° 0 '  N , 12 ° 8'  E