Trollhattan Falls

The Gota river dropped some thirty-two metres through a rock gorge at Trollhattan, and the falls were a serious obstacle to navigation until locks were cut round them, first in 1800 and then twice more at larger scale. Hydroelectric power took the water in the twentieth century, and the gorge is now normally dry, walkable at the bottom, with the bare rock and potholes exposed. On scheduled days through July and August the gates are opened and the full flow goes back down the old channel for a set period - several hundred cubic metres a second, loud and violent - and the town gathers on the bridges to watch. The lock staircases are alongside.

Background

The falls begin at the Malgö Bridge in central Trollhättan and drop 32 metres in all, a large part of the river's 44-metre fall from Vänern to the Kattegat. Before the power stations were built about 900 m³/s poured through, and the falls ran down to Olidehålan, where the lower part was called Helvetesfallet, Hell Falls. Today the Håjum and Olidan power stations on the eastern bank take most of the water, and the old course is opened only to regulate Vänern or for visitors, as on the Days of the Waterfalls held on the third Friday of July, when 300 m³/s is let through.

Source: Wikipedia, "Trollhättan Falls"

What's there

• A gorge that is normally dry - bare rock and potholes.
• Scheduled water releases - full flow through the old channel.
• Three generations of locks - from 1800 onward.
• Bridges over the channel - where people watch.

When to go

July and August, on the published release days only. Two hours.

Good to know

Outside release days the gorge is dry and the point is largely lost. Release dates and times are fixed and published - check before travelling. Release days draw crowds. The rock is slippery.

Nearby

The Saab museum is in the town; Vanern is north.

Key facts