The Trollhätte Canal
Sweden's only waterway developed for large ships connects the Kattegat near Gothenburg with the Vänern inland, Sweden's largest lake. The Trollhätte channel also forms the western section of the navigable coast-to-coast route known as the "Göta Canal".
The fact that the Göta Älv river has been shaped for large ships is evident not only from the straight sections on the first few kilometres upstream of Gothenburg, but also from the radar reflectors on both sides and at regular intervals on long booms over the water. They mark the fairway for ships, which can be up to 87 metres long and 4.70 metres deep. The Vänermax dimension is based on the usable size of the current lock chambers on the 82 kilometres of the canal. However, further expansion is planned.
While industrial areas and shopping centres on both sides initially point to the conurbation of the city, the surrounding countryside soon becomes greener and hillier. The Göta älv now appears very natural, despite the fortified banks and lake markers. No wonder: only ten kilometres of the waterway had to be created artificially.
The journey takes you past the old fortress of Bohus, over three barrages (including the spectacular Trollhättan lock stairs) with a total height difference of 44 metres and finally to Vänersborg, where the canal ends in the south-west of Lake Vänern. The canal is in operation all year round. Price (one-way trip): 1100 SEK.
Dalsland Canal
In the far west, on the border with Norway, the water system of the Dalsland Canal - certainly one of the most beautiful inland waterways in Europe. The name is deceptive: only twelve of its 250 kilometres are man-made. The canal was opened in 1868 and, until the construction of a railway line towards the end of the century, was mainly used to transport saw timber and iron ore down to Lake Vänern and from there on to the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
If you add the tributaries such as the Töcksfors Canal in the north and Lake Silen, you quickly reach 400 kilometres. The 55 kilometre long Stora Le stretches all the way into Norway. The main route runs over 140 kilometres from Ed via Bengtsfors and Håverud to Köpmannebro and overcomes a height difference of 58 metres with 23 locks. In Dals Langed and Håverud, four chambers are combined to form lock staircases.
The historic Håverud aqueduct, opened in 1868, is also one of Sweden's most famous engineering monuments. With an iron trough, 33 metres long and held together by 33,000 rivets, the canal crosses a narrow gorge before reaching the lake below via four lock chambers.
Other important places along the route are Töcksfors and Årjäng. The minimum depth of the fairway is 1.80 metres, and in difficult places it is continuously marked with cardinal or lateral bars. The 2024 season runs from 12 June to 18 August. Price for return trip depending on boat length. Example (10 metres): 4200 SEK.
The Säffle Canal
In the north-west of Lake Vänern, on the other hand, the Säffle canal and leads northwards for around 80 kilometres. This route was already used in the Middle Ages and vikingaleden as many ground monuments and other historical traces still bear witness today.
The landscape of the Värmland region is so flat here that the entire canal is regulated by a single lock, right at the beginning in Säffle. The northern third of the route runs across the elongated Glafsfjord to the small town of Arvika, the most inland harbour in Sweden. High season: 23 June to 13 August. A lock in Säffle costs SEK 200.
The Bergslag Canal
The only waterway "without a connection" to the rest of the network is the Bergslag Canal north-east of Lake Vänern. The tranquil 65 kilometre long water system between the small towns of Filipstad and Karlskoga comprises 16 lakes and five short sections of canal with a total of six locks, whereby only around three kilometres had to be dug to connect the numerous lakes in the region north-east of Kristinehamn.
Here too, economic interests were once at the forefront of construction, but today only the degree of recreation plays a role. In contrast to the other canals, the Kinda Canal is owned by an association. Slipways for water hikers are available. Main season 2014: 10 June to 11 August. Price: SEK 225 (one-way trip), SEK 450 (return trip).
