Sjötorp is the end of the Göta Kanal. Not that we are back to the Kattegat in Göteborg yet, but the Göta Kanal is just the portion between the lake Vänern and the Baltic sea. From Vänern towards the west to Göteborg, we will have to go through the Trollhättan Kanal.
 |
| Passing one of the many bridges |
Lots of bridges and locks for this final section, going down from the 91.8 metres in Tåtorp to the 45 metres in Vänern lake...
The landscape is changing in this section. Much agricultural environment, compared with the forest that we saw in the previous section. It is incredibly beautiful!
The Kanal is monitored by video cameras and bridge opening is remotely controlled. Apart from the three railway bridges and the E20 highway bridges that are opening when it is feasible, all other bridges are opened for each boat that show up. It is very well synchronised so that you do not even need to reduce the speed of the boat (9 km/h limit) to go through. Priority is given to boats over land traffic for the two months of operations along the kanal.
 |
| A turning bridge showing a green light |
 |
| Nice places along the way |
We arrive in Sjötorp early afternoon, and stay in the first marina, still three locks and a bridge from the Vänern lake. We visit the Sjötorp church, which looks old, but was in fact built in 1956.
 |
| View towards the altar, Sjötorp church |
 |
| A painting of the church in winter |
 |
| The Lidan votive ship, from Lidköping |
 |
| The Camen votive ship |
The
T/S Westkust is a three-masted schooner built in 1932 in Sjötorp. The ship is known in Sweden for having been involved in a large smuggling of liquor in Sweden while she was based in Visby, on Gotland. Today, she is used as a chartered boat, based at Edshultshall, Orust.
 |
| The Westkust votive ship from Donsö |
 |
| The marina in Sjötorp, at the entrance of the Kanal, just after the first lock |
No comments:
Post a Comment