Before we reached the Norway-Sweden border, we detoured at Brekke Sluser. He was explaining to me about a lock system and his excitement... I could not understand what was he referring to. Nor can I visualise. So, he stopped and I asked him is this the place? Because I don't see any signboard that introduces the place.
Brekke sluser is a sluice facility in the Halden Canal. With its 26.6 m total lift height in four chambers, Brekke is Scandinavia's highest sluice facility.
The sluice facility was built under the direction of Engebret Soot and was completed in 1852 , but in 1861 the plant was destroyed by flooding. Only in 1877 was it rebuilt. The present plant was completed in 1924 when the water falls in Stenselva were collected in Brekke Locks and Krappeto, which lay further up, was immersed. At the same time, Brekke power station was completed. The loops were used for timber transport until 1982 , when the timber cars took over all transport.
The sleepers can take boats up to 26m long, 6m wide and 1.6m deep, and today is one of several highlights for travelers with the tourist boats in Halden Canal. Source from Wikipedia.
This is the lake at the top where the water flows into each "gate" to level the water in each space. By looking at the photos, can you imagine how the lock system works?
Each 'gate' has an opening which will release the water to ensure the same water level at the space behind the 'gate' prior to opening the 'gate'. Once the 'gate' is opened, the boaters can row to the next space. It takes 45 minutes for the entire process. There are, I think 4 gates. I asked the kayak-ers and they paid NOK230 for 3 canoes. I asked them why do you pay to use this. One of them commented that they were lazy. It is definitely tiring to carry the canoes.
Now, the boaters can continue their fishing in the river. I asked the person-in-charge and apparently, this place is open everyday from 10am - 5pm. It does sound like an office hour. Time to continue the drive to Sweden.
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