Dalsland Canal

At the Köpmannebro (bridge) in Åmål begins the magnificent Dalsland Canal constructed by Nils Ericsson, 254km/160mi long, with 29 locks. It links a whole string of lakes, with only about 10km/6mi of its total length that can be described as a canal in the normal sense. This navigable lake system extends from Dalsland into Värmland and Norway. It was originally constructed in order to provide a means of transport for the products of the ironworks and sawmills of Dalsland and Värmland, and also as a convenient link with Norway and the North Sea. Nowadays the canal is no longer used for the transport of freight, but it has become a popular tourist route, running as it does through beautiful and varied scenery which alternates between fertile