The Riksberg Locks

Product description

Formal name: Baltzar Bogislaus von Platen (founder of the Göta Canal)
Year of construction: 1819-1820
Technical facts: These three connected locks cover a rise of 7.5 metres. This is the steepest drop on the Västergötland section of the canal. Baltzar von Platen, founder of the canal, statesman and naval officer, had the flight of locks here in Riksberg named after him. He was born in 1766, on an estate in Dornhoff, then part of Swedish Pomerania. Von Platen began his career as an officer in the Navy. In the course of his duty, he was captured by the Russians and spent two years as their prisoner. At the age of 34, he left the Navy, with honours and the rank of colonel. Rather than sail the seven seas, he wished to build a fairway through Sweden. As we all know, his idea became a reality, however, von Platen himself sadly did not live to see the completion of his work. He died on December 6, 1829, whilst serving as the Governor of Norway, just three years before the completion of the canal