Ellstones along Gota Canal

Product description

All of the man-made portion of the Canal is marked with numbered limestone blocks. The distance between them i 1000 ells, which corresponds to 594 metres.

In older days, the bow-haulers who pulled the sailing boats though the Canal with their teams of oxen, charged per ellstone they passed. In the eraly 19th century, the rate was 8 öre for 1000 ells, or 594 metres.

On the western strech of the canal there are 60 ellstones, and on the eastern part are 82 stones and all of them are numbered.