We planned our trip for 3 days but when the weather is good you have to take advantage of that, especially in Norway so we extended our trip for 1 more day. After the Falkenuten hike we were a little tired we rented a small cabin and slept overnight at Flatedal. The next day got ready for our next destination on the way back home We took National Road 36 which goes through Seljord and planned to make a small stop at Vrangfoss Sluser/Locks.
After passing Seljord town, the lake monster landed along National Highway 36 between Bø and Seljord, the self-styled sea snake Selma, which usually resides in deep Lake Seljord. An enormous legendary sea monster/serpent is at the new rest area, this monster is made of concrete, and Stone tables and chairs have been set up between the various body parts of the sea serpent. After a long drive, it is an ideal rest stop to eat and refresh where the children can play, and enjoy the view over the lake and the small village among the big mountains. Locals tell stories about this monster sea serpent that sometimes surfaces from its home deep in the lake. Twice we have driven that road and stopped at the rest area where I sat there and watched the lake hoping to see that monster alive But I couldn't.
when we started driving again the weather became a little cloudy but it wasn't raining, still a pleasant summer day.
We arrived at Seljord Lake where the big sea monster serpent is located.
His whole body was made of concrete but the face is made with rustic copper.
The face looks very scary.
I tried to take photos of it in each direction.
My husband started playing with it like a child.
Its height must be around 4.5 meters.
The tail of this monster serpent.
After relaxing and eating lunch we headed on to the Vrangfoss sluser/ canal locks. In between there were very nice places. Norway has especially peculiar weather, how the weather changes you can't believe it. Suddenly cloudy, rainy, windy next moment it turns totally opposite. the sunshine, the wind stops, the clouds disappear it is magical nature here.in the next town, the sun was shining.
On the way I stopped and took some photos and we came to Vrangfoss on the Telemark canal
Vrangfoss is the largest and most beautiful lock system on the Telemark Canal. It consists of five chambers and has a lifting height of 23 meters. During the high season in July and August,
watching these lock systems working is very fun but it must be even more fun when you are in a boat and experiencing this adventure. we were there in high season and it is not easy to book boat tickets on the spot We just enjoyed the view around and planned to do that adventure another time.
The construction of the Vrangfoss locks, which was completed in 1892, was an extensive and demanding project. The locks are integrated into the landscape, serving as a testament to the remarkable effort and workmanship of the laborers involved.
Around 1900, the canal formed a key part of the shortest route between Christiania (Oslo) and Bergen, with a journey that took four days, involving travel by train, canal boat, and horse-drawn cart.
When we were there some boats were in the fourth chamber and some waiting to come into the fifth chamber, waiting for the lock to fill and open. it is like a stairway made of water. You can see the big wooden doors which close the water flow. Big walls made of stones.
Construction of the Vrangfoss facility required approximately 17,000 m³ of stone, much of which was sourced from a quarry not far from the lock plant. Visitors can explore the quarry, which offers insight into stone extraction methods and a picturesque vantage point to observe canal boat activity.
Each chamber gets filled by the water from the top, one chamber at a time until the water level reaches up to the chamber above and then the doors open and the since two chambers are at the same level the boats move forward to the next one. that chamber then begins to fill and the boats continue through the 5 chambers and when finished they are at the water level of the canal above the locks so they can proceed on their journey
In these photos, you can see how the water fills in the chambers and doors opening.
After the fourth chamber, all boats are moved to the fifth and last chamber of this locks system on the Telemark canal. outside there some boats waiting to come down the locks in the other direction.
The Telemark Canal, including the Vrangfoss locks, was designated a technical cultural monument in 2017, ensuring that all repairs and maintenance must be carried out using traditional methods, preserving the historical integrity of the canal. The Vrangfoss area houses a forge and a saw specifically for the canal's maintenance needs. Materials for lock gates and canal buildings are fabricated here.
The area around the lock facility is a landscaped park with trees, lawns, natural stone walls, and footpaths, built shortly after the lock facilities were completed in 1892. Adjacent to the lock facility there are also several buildings, both residential and technical buildings.
https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vrangfoss_sluser translated text from Norwegian to English and some corrections done by my husband.
Thank you for this time trip to Telemark.
All photos are taken by me some from my husband.