David Ricardo, One Ale and Göta Canal

Economic rivalry and the struggle for control over trade routes in the Baltic and the North Sea - and especially over the narrow straits between them - kept Denmark and Sweden in a state of tension and conflict for centuries.

A foreigner would not immediately distinguish a Swedish newspaper from a Danish one. The two languages are very close to each other. What differs dramatically is the pronunciation. In times of military rivalry it was said that a spy could be exposed by a single word dropped in a bar.

At the beginning of the 19th century Sweden faced a very practical problem: trade between the country’s eastern and western coasts. The sea route passed through the Danish straits, which Denmark had controlled for centuries while collecting the so-called Sound Dues from ships transiting the passage, abandoned only in 1857.

Construction of the Göta Canal connecting Baltic to the North Sea began in 1810. It was an age of technological revolution and rapidly expanding transport and trade. States were searching for new routes, while David Ricardo was developing his theory of comparative advantage in international trade.

Building the canal took 22 years, and it was one of the largest infrastructure projects of its time. Of the canal’s 190-kilometre route, about 87 kilometres had to be dug by hand.

When it finally opened in 1832, the economy was already accelerating. Trade volumes were growing, ships were becoming larger, and transport demanded speed and capacity. Passing through dozens of locks was slow, the lock dimensions limited vessel size and the railway was making its way. By the time of completion, the economic advantage of the canal was largely eliminated.

Today, together with the Trollhätte Canal, the Göta Canal forms a continuous waterway linking the Baltic Sea and the North Sea - the route called “The Blue Ribbon of Sweden” and one of the best places in Europe to spend a few summer days or even weeks travelling by boat.

Slow passages, historic locks, small towns, forests and lakes, breathtaking landscapes, grazing cows, interesting museums and unexpected encounters along the way.

People do not hurry here. That is exactly what makes the route special. The speed limit on the canal is 5 knots. There are 58 locks, and one of them - with only a minimal change in water level - still has to be opened manually.

Passing through the canal, you will also encounter nearly every type of bridge imaginable: lift bridges, sliding bridges, bascule bridges and swing bridges.

If you ever dream of mastering locks and bridges, seeing beautiful countryside, charming towns and The Great Swedish Lakes - this is the route.

Fair winds!