Säffle canal and
The Viking Route

Old stock in "Seffle kanal och slusswerk" the canal company	Old canalchart

Vikings at the Viking Route in 1995

Total length	Total elevation	Number of locks	Max boatlength	Max boatwidth	Max draught	Max free heigth	Max speed
90,9 km	0,65 m	1	42 m	7,5 m	3,0 m	16 m	4/6 knots

The lockchamber seen from north	The canal south of the lock
The canal seen from Stenmagasinet, storehouse	Stenmagasinet, storehouse

Passing through the lock	Passing through the lock	Passing through the lock

Bridgeopening	Bridgeopening	Bridgeopening

History:
The route from lake Vänern to Glafsfjorden is very old. The Vikings used it frequently. That was before landelevation created hindering streams that made the fairway too shallow.
Old tales say that the Viking king Olof Trätälja used this route when on his way to Solörike close to Kongsvinger in Norway to catch a bride. That was during the 7th century.

Säffle canal was built in 1837 and improved between 1866 and 1870 at a total cost of 371 000 SEK of which 187 200 was granted by the government.
The whole fairway is 90,9 kilometers and of this 12,8 kilometers are canalized. It follows the river Byälven from Älgåfjärden to lake Vänern.
In 1915 922 boats used the canal and 90 log rafts passed.

During the winter 1997/98 the northern gates of the lock were exchanged and the southern gates were exchanged during the winter 1999/2000.
The new gates are made of steel, but have a traditional design.

In 1881 Baltzar von Platen and the county governor in Värmland were appointed to investigate the waters from lake Vänern through Byälven and all the way to Norway, and find out if it was possible to create a fairway for ships to the town Kongsvinger in Norway. Their report recommended a closer survey which was reported in 1812. Dredging of 16 shallows were proposed. Later, in 1815, dredging of another 9 shallows were proposed as well as building of a lock and a mill in Säffle.
Of all this the mill was built and a chute was blasted for getting water to the mill. This mill is still there and it was used as a storehouse for many a year. At this time nothing seems to have been done about the fairway.
In the early 1820ies local people complained that nothing had happened. The issue was discussed in parliament. Another investigation started that showed the need for a lock at Säffle and that many shallows needed to be removed. The proposal was presented by major Hallström and the cost estimated to 90 000 SEK.
This year a meeting was held with all people interested in a canal. A company was started for building and maintaining the canal. The government promised 82 500 SEK, but no canalworks started. The people working with mills were dissapointed.
New surveys started in 1828 initiated by Baltzar von Platen. Captain Ekenstam made the survey and found that it would cost 355 167 SEK. The proposal was examined by the well known canal engineer Nils Ericson who found methods for building it cheaper. He estimated the cost to 198 693 SEK. After further discussions the decision was taken to build the canal according to the Nils Ericson proposal, but the works did not start until 1835. The works were supervised by lieutenant David Wilhel Lilliehöök. The canal was finished and inaugurated in May 1837 and D. W. Lillehöök was appointed manager for the canal company. The whote route to Arvika was not finished until 1851.

Between 1866 and 1873 the lock and fairway was enlarged for 79 000 SEK. The dimensions now became the same or larger than those of Göta Canal.
When Trollhätte canal was enlarged in the early 20th century the demand for an enlargement of Säffle canal and thw whole fairway to Arvika was proposed too. Some minor improvements were made. Proposals for a complete enlargement was approved by different authourities in the 1950ies, but no mentionable enlargement has been made.

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