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The Göta Canal was one
of the largest civil engineering projects ever undertaken in Sweden.
The canal stretches from Sjötorp
on Lake Vänern to Mem on the east coast. It has a length of 190
kilometres and a total of 58 locks. Of this distance, 87 kilometres
are man-made. The lakes through which the canal passes make up
103 kilometres of its length.
A dream dating back 300 years
As early as the sixteenth century, the renowned Bishop Brask in Linköping proposed
a canal across Sweden from the Baltic to the North Sea. Plans for such a waterway
came to be discussed many times before Baltzar von Platen finally transformed
them into reality.
Baltzar von Platen
In 1806, Count Baltzar von Platen, naval officer and government minister, produced
a treatise on canals and was later asked to submit a plan for the Göta Canal.
On 11 April 1810, King Karl XIII issued a charter allowing the canal company
to build and operate the canal, and granted the company labour, land and
forests for the project. In May 1810, excavation work was started in Motala.
Work was soon underway at about 15 sites along the route.
Soldiers and their work
The Göta Canal was largely built by 58,000 billeted soldiers from 15 different
regiments. During the 22 years building was in progress, about 60,000 men,
including a company of Russian war prisoners and a number of civilian workers,
worked a total of about 7 million man-days, each of 12 hours.
Most of the canal was excavated by hand using
iron-shod wooden spades. Work mainly consisted of digging, blasting
and dressing stone. Baltzar von Platen also introduced several
new techniques using various equipment from England. A number of
highly skilled English foremen were recruited.
Motala Verkstad
In 1822, Baltzar von Platen established a small engineering workshop in Motala,
which became the cradle of the Swedish engineering industry.
Formal inauguration
On 26 September 1832, the Göta Canal was inaugurated at Mem amid great pomp
and circumstance in the presence of King Karl XIV and his family. Sadly, Baltzar
von Platen did not live to see the crowning of his masterpiece, having died
three years earlier.
Commercial traffic
Throughout the 19th century, the Göta Canal continued to be a very important
transport route for both goods and passengers. However, the canal never achieved
the long term importance that Baltzar von Platen had expected. The railways,
and later on road traffic, gradually took over its role. Instead, the Göta
Canal later became one of Sweden's most popular and well- known tourist attractions.
About Baltzar von Platen
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Book
now for 2010!
We have already a lot of bookings and inquirys for season 2010. Want
to be sure of a week? Contact us at
boka@kanalcharter.se or make your inquryy on the mail form.
For available weeks click here!
For brochure klick here!
KINDA KANAL
 Explore the unique Kinda Canal. Rent a boat for a trip in beuatiful surroundings. Read more!
Dog owner?
Have a look at the 'Tilly Trotter' harness,
a must in many situations even for those that don't have a boat.
Read more!
Rent bikes at the Göta Canal
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