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After the completion of the Trollhätta Canal in 1800, the task
of connecting Lake Venern with the Baltic by another series of
canals still remained for the Swedish engineers to execute.
Surveys had already been made for this purpose by Daniel Thunherg at
the close of last century, but the plans were Anally adjusted by
Baron Baltzar von Platen, with the aid of Thomas Telford, the
English engineer, in 1808. These other canals, connecting Lake
Venern with Lake Vettern, and the latter with the Baltic, were
constructed in 1810-32 at a cost of about 5 million crowns. All
the different parts of the Canal between Stockholm and
Gothenburg are collectively known as the Göta Canal, though each part
has a local name of its own. The section between Lakes Venern
and Vettern is the Göta Canal par excellence or Vestyäta Linie,
while the section connecting the Vettern with the Baltic Sea is
called the Östgöta Linie.
Although other important systems of canals, such
astheStrums-holms Canal (p. 365) and the Dalslands Canal (p. 279), have been
constructed in Sweden since the completion of the Göta Canal, yet
the last still retains the chief place of interest on account of the
picturesque scenery through which it leads. The prettiest part is
the Ostgöta Linie, while the Vestgöta Linie and Lake Venern are
somewhat monotonous and uninteresting. Travellers who are
pressed for time will And it enough to travel by canal from Motala to
Berg or iSorsholm. Many, however, prefer to proceed in the steamer
to Stockholm, in which case they will And the Anal stage, from
Söderköping to Stockholm as seen in the clear summer night, one
of the most picturesque scenes in Swedish travel. Travellers are
recommended in no case to make the whole journey from
Gothenburg to Stockholm by’steamer (2* 2 days), as they would And it
extremely monotonous and tiresome.
Statistics. The total distance from the X. Sea to the Baltic by
the canal-route is about 240 Engl. 31. (to Venersbore 55, thence to Sjötorp
75, and from Sjötorp to 3Iem 110 Engl. 31.). The artificial part of this
water-way, including 74 locks in all, is about 56 Engl. 31. in length.
The highest point of the canal is at Lake Viken (p. 296). The canal is
46 ft. wide at the bottom and S6 ft. on the surface, and is 10 ft. in depth.
Four of the locks, called ‘bestämmande slussar’, are used for regulating
the level of the water. The canal is crossed by upwards of 30 bridges,
and there are numerous sluices for the purpose" of letting oft’ the water
when repairs are necessary. About 7U00 barges and small steamers annually
ply between the N. Sea and bake Venern, and about 3000 between Lake
Venern and the Baltic.
About 2 Engl. M. to the E. of Motala lies Motala Verkstad,
an extensive establishment ^1700 hands), comprising iron-works
and an engine-factory, founded in 1822, and the property of a
company. Visitors are admitted. Professional men may apply to
the director for special information. The works are driven by a
single water-wheel, which is turned by the water of the canal 38 ft.
above it. In the Dufvedal, on the N. side of the works, is the simple
tomb of Baron von Platen (d. 1829), the chief engineer of the
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