Strömma canal
Strömman kanava

In the 1820:ies Robert Bremer found a rich iron ore-deposit by Koskinjoki river. Robert Bremer owned Tykö / Teijo works in Bjärnö / Perniö by the stream close to Gulf of Finland.
He wanted to transport the ore to Tykö / Teijo for refining, but the fairway was long and dangerous as the barges had to sail around the island Kimito / Kemö, as the stream at Strömma was too shallow.
In 1843, Viktor Zebor Bremer, new owner of the works, asked the Senate for permission to build a canal through Strömma. In 1844 he was granted this privilege by the emperor under certain conditions.
Bremer built the canal 7,5 feet wider then planned. Total width was 9,65 meter and the depth 3 meter.
Over the canal a rolling bridge was built. Supposedly the first of the kind in Finland. The bridge was build by Tykö / Teijo works and 22,57 meters long.
Strömma canal was inaugerated with great festivities on July 2nd 1845.
The canal had big impact on shipping along the coast. The canal got a pilot in 1852.
The canal was enlarged to a width of 16,7 meters and a depth of 4 meters between 1896 and 1898. At this time a new swingbridge was built too. It had to be manually opened by the canalguard.
Between 1967 and 1968 a new canal was built half a kilometer west of the old one. This was built 28 meters wide and 5,5 meters deep.
The fairway continues from Tykö / Teijo to Salo but not as deep.

Tarmo Hurskainen © 2005

The old canal from north. And the old swingbridge from 1898 when the canal was enlarged. However the bridge is now fixed.

The old canal from south.

The new canal from north with the bascule bridge from 1968.

The new canal from south. Strömma is the only place in Finland where you can see the tidal waterchanges. The stream changes direction four times every day.

The old canal from north. And the old swingbridge from 1898 when the canal was enlarged. However the bridge is now fixed.

The old canal from south.

The new canal from north with the bascule bridge from 1968.

The new canal from south. Strömma is the only place in Finland where you can see the tidal waterchanges. The stream changes direction four times every day.

© Pictures by Torsti Salonen

 

Source: Turkka Myllykylä, Suomen kanavien historia. Otava 1991.
Do send comments or further information to Bosse Arnholm

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