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We now descend slightly to the Tight to the *Stampeströms Fall,
8 ft. in height, below which the river expands into the
comparatively calm Hoijumsvarp. The opposite bank is here steep and rocky;
at its foot is an apparatus for catching salmon.
Those who are satisfied with seeing the three main falls ascend
the flight of steps to the left of the Polhems Sluss, which receives
a small and picturesque waterfall, and return to the hotel by the
principal path, passing the Church on their way. Those who are
not fatigued are, however, recommended to take the footpath to the
right below the church, which leads through pine and fir woods,
passing an oil-mill (Oljeslageri) on the left and the villa Djupa
Dalen on the right. Immediately beyond the latter, a few paces
to the left of the path, is an unusually symmetrical Jättegryta, or
‘Giant’s Cauldron’. A finger-post (‘Vag till Utsigtenjjj beyond this
indicates the way to a Villa med Utsigtstorn (25ö.; Cafe’), in which
photographs, maps, etc., are offered for sale at somewhat exorbitant
prices. The villa commands a view of the Helretes Falls (‘hell
falls’!, 25 ft. in height, and of the Kopparklint. We next pass
the Mekanisk Verkstad on the left and descend by a picturesque
path to the river, which here expands and forms the Oliden Alan.
We now skirt the river by the Dödens Gång to the Hjertatsndde,
whence we enjoy a retrospect of all the falls, the church, etc. The
pretty path (‘Kärlekens Stig’) leads on, passing the Elfvi Sluss and
the Flottbergsström, to.—
Akersvass, with its fine trees, fountains, and chalet. The eleven
new * Locks of Aker sc as s are among the most interesting structures
of the kind on the Göta Canal. They are adjoined by several old and
nowr disused locks. We may ascend on either bank, but the S.
bank, adjoining the new locks, is preferable. At the top wejeach
a Balcony, commanding a charming view, and the hamlet of
Akers-berg, on the Akerssjö, 2 Engl. M. from the Trollhättan Hotel.
The chief obstacle to the construction of the Göta Canal (comp. p. 302)
was presented by the formidable waterfalls and cataracts of Trollhättan;
and the first attempt to overcome the difficulty was made at the
beginning of the 18th cent, by the talented engineers Svedenborg and
Polhem, who proceeded to construct three locks (Ekeblads, Polhems, and
Eljvi Sluss), by means of which they hoped to enable vessels to pass
the waterfalls. In 1755, however, after several interruptions, the
enterprise had to be abandoned, and these old locks now form a not
unpie-turesque ruin. In 1800 eight new locks were successfully constructed,
and are still in use, serving for the passage of small vessels; but, as these
soon proved inadequate for the requirements of the shipping trade, eleven
new locks on a larger scale ^vere formed by Ericson (p. 2S1) in 1836-44. All
these locks are situated at Akersvass, besides which there are two at Lilia
Edet and one at Akersström, helow Trollhättan, and two more above it. at
Rrinkebergs Kulle near Venershorg, where the waterfall of Rånnum, 68 ft.
in height, has to be avoided. These immense locks, forming a kind of
staircase by means of which vessels are enabled to ascend and descend
with ease and safety between the North Sea and Lake Venern, 144 ft.
above it, form one of the principal objects of interest on the canal and
lake-route between Gothenburg and Stockholm. Comp. pp. 302. 303.
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