Telemark canal

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Telemark Canal
The Henrik Ibsen in a lock at Vrangfoss staircase locks
Length	105 km
Source elevation	72 m

The Telemark Canal originally consisted of two canals: The Norsjø-Skien Canal, with locks in Skien and Løveid was built in the period 1854–1861, and is the oldest of the two canals.

The other original canal – Bandak-Nordsjø Canal – was opened in 1892. In Europe, this canal was seen as "the eighth wonder" when it was finished. The Bandak-Nordsjø Canal was mainly built for transport of goods and passengers, log floating and to prevent flooding. Log floating, however, is no longer practiced, due to the closing of Union - a local paper factory.

The Telemark Canal consists of 18 lock-chambers, is 105 km long and has a difference in altitude of 72 m. The biggest staircase lock is Vrangfoss which has five lock-chambers and a lifting height of 23 m. The passenger boats Henrik Ibsen and Victoria travel with tourists from Skien to Dalen via Kviteseid. Victoria has traveled through the Norsjø-Skien Canal since 1882, and on the Bandak-Norsjø Canal since its opening.

[edit] Distribution of the 18 lock-chambers

Lock	Lift height	Chambers	Lock passage time
Skien	5 m	1 chamber	20 min
Løveid	10.3 m	3 chambers	35 min
Ulefoss	10.7 m	3 chambers	40 min
Eidsfoss	10 m	2 chambers	30 min
Vrangfoss	23 m	5 chambers	60 min
Lunde	3 m	1 chamber	15 min
Kjeldal	3 m	1 chamber	15 min
Hogga	7 m	2 chambers	25 min