The Tåtorp lock

The Tåtorp lock

Read about The Tåtorp lock's formal name, year of construction and technical facts. Learn the history!

Product description

Formal name: Daniel Thunberg (the man who made the first drawings for the Göta Canal)
Built: 1814
Technical facts:Tåtorp Lock is a regulating lock. It controls the water level between the canal and the lake. The lock has a rise of 0.2 metre and is the only manually operated lock on the western section of the canal. The section between Tåtorp and Lanthöjden is called the “Rock channel”. It covers a distance of 3.5 kilometres where the route for the canal had to be blasted from solid rock. The section took seven years to complete and was largely built by a regiment from Skaraborg. It is not only the Tåtorp bridge itself that is unusual, but also its history. In earlier times, it was the canal company’s responsibility to ensure that people were able to cross the canal. Here at Tåtorp, the company chose the less expensive alternative of a ferry. In 1933, however, the ferry was taken out of service and for 20 years the only way to cross the canal was by the lock gates. Local people became tired of this and ordered the bridge from Germany without consulting the canal company.
Built: 1953
Technical facts: This bascule bridge was imported from the former West Germany and is the only one of its type on the canal.