Push theboatout
Norway’sHaldenCanaloffersasplendidmixofcultureandrelaxation
tretching fromnorth-
westernEuropeall theway
to thePacificOcean inEast
Asia, and thenacross the
BeringStrait and throughout
thenorthernmostpartsof theAmerican
continent, thesprawling forestsof the taiga
represent thebiggest lung in theplanet’s
respiratorysystemand theperfecthabitat
fora remarkablearrayofplantsandanimals.
Europe’s rapidexpansionmeant that its
westernbrim, inNorway,was thefirst spot
tobe trulycolonised. Today, youcanstill
see theelaborate facilitiesbuilt for the
floatingof timberdown to thewaterfalls
andsawmillsclose to theharbourofHalden,
fromwhere itwasexported.
Constructed in the 1850s, theHalden
Canal remains fully functional and is
recognised as a siteof national technical-
industrial heritage. Thecanal is 80km long
with threeelaborate lock systems –one
ofwhich, inBrekke, is thehighest innorth
Europe. TheCanal Museum atØrieoffers
anoverviewof its history and functions,
while aboat trip aboardM/S Strømfoss
provides theopportunity toenjoy a cosy
meal andhear the story of Engebret Soot,
the legendary canal builder.
Oneof thebestways toexplore the
system is to take apaddling tour, staying
overnight at oneof thequality hotels,
campsites or bed andbreakfasts, or you
canevenbring your ownboat of up to
3 tonnes. Canoes andbicycles are
available at a reasonableprice.
Thecommunitiesalong theSwedish
borderare linkedaspartof aRegional
Parkwithineasy reachofOslo, offeringa
fantasticcombinationofnature, culture,
Promotio
n
Oneof thebestways
toexplore the system
iswith apaddling tour
physical activityandplainpeaceandquiet.
Thissame tranquillitywouldhavebeen
muchharder tofindprior to 1814,when
the regionwascontinually in themiddle
of fightingbetween theNordiccountries.
This led to theconstructionof a string
of defensive fortifications,most notably
Halden’s 17th-century Fredriksten
fortress – amust-seewhen visiting the
city. Althoughbesieged several times,
itwas never takenor destroyed, and is
now the venue for events such as opera
performances and the locationof the
popular TV series,
AllsangPåGrensen
(‘Singingon theBorder’). It alsocontains
a finehistoricalmuseum andboasts a
diverse rangeof activities for children.
visithaldenkanalen.no
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