The Göta Canal across Sweden (Not Panama but worth a shot)

Well, I have to add a disclaimer here. The Göta Canal, which we recently had a pleasant day cruising on, isn’t going to be the start of a new hobby of ticking off Canals of the World, However, whilst on holiday in Sweden, to visit our son, this was a pleasant surprise. Reading the history of its inception and importance to Sweden entering the industrial age I believe the Göta Kanal needs a mention here.

Sweden struggled to connect its eastern ports to trade. The route to the North Sea, meant sailing south around the tip of the country before heading into the Baltic and on to the North Sea through the narrow channel separating Denmark and Sweden. The Danes charged tolls for all vessels, so the idea of a maritime ‘Blue Ribbon’ crossing the Swedish land mass was talked about for three centuries, before any venture was attempted.  

 Baltzar von Platen persuaded the Swedish crown that it could be achieved. With the help of the great Scottish canal builder Thomas Telford the canal was constructed.

English help also played its part with supervisors and new tools and technical aids, but most of the digging was done manually by the Swedish army.

To create the waterway 87 km of canal was excavated to accompany the 190 km route. 58 locks also had to be built, together with jetties/piers/aqueducts. Remember Sweden is a land of lakes, so a greater part of the route follows lakes along the way.

I discovered a vintage 1909 canal postcard in Gothenburg showing the canal in use

The card reads From Sweden's rural regions. View of the Canal Stockholm-Gothenburg

It revolutionised the Swedish economy.  Also led to new engineering skills handed down that are still felt to his day worldwide. Special mention to the English engineer Daniel Fraser sent out to the Motala workshops to instruct the local Swedes how to maintain and repair their new steam powered British dredger. The Motala Workshops (MW), grew into its own manufacturing concern (called Motala Verkstad), producing bridges/ships/boilers locomotives and many other goods.

Of course, the canal a had a time and a place before road and rail transport superseded its usefulness. Today, it’s a huge tourist pull, and public money has and is being used to maintain and modernise it. You can even treat yourself to a 6 day cruise from Stockholm to Gothenburg in one of the three vintage ships that ply the route.

Most of the above info came from the wonderful Gota Kanal visitors centre in Motala.

https://www.gotakanal.se/sv/en-vacker-historia

Our day trip came a day later on the MV Leon Wasa from Bergs Slussar to Borensberg and back. A leisurely return cruise taking in nine locks.

Whilst on the return journey my talented artist wife drew some of the views we had seen on the day onto the reverse of some of my own produced Panama creations, to share with the crew. Enjoy !