eidselva

Eidsfoss all right, at the Bandakkanal (Norsjø-Bandakkanalen) - the locks and waterfall between Ulefoss (3 km downstream) and Vrangfoss (0,8 km upstream). Would estimate picture to be shot from Eiestranda (UTM32V 144360 N, 47746 E), not as far downstream on the right (western) bank as Striken (UTM32V 143983 N, 47826 E). The central part of the picture is Eidsfoss locks (UTM32V 144614 N, 47643 E) with the old "needle dam" (torn down in the early 1960'ies and replaced with a modern dam when the third and present hydropower station was built in the waterfall, the first constructed during WWI) The nearest buildings in the hillside were built for the workers manning the canal gates in traffic (in Norwegian: slusevokterboligen) Higher in the hillside (Hølalia i Stangefjell) is the quarry (for granite blocks for the construction of the canal) freshly visible in the forest. The old road between Ulefoss and Lunde (Skaravegen) passes between "slusevokterboligen" www.flickr.com/photos/nilsenhelgeir/4056481130/ and the quarry. Further north on this road, over the highest part of the locks is the cottage Eidshaug visible in the forest (at UTM32V145029N 47536E) (Eidshaug, sjå: www.flickr.com/photos/nilsenhelgeir/4055737355/ eller: www.flickr.com/photos/nilsenhelgeir/4055736519/ . The forests were owned by the Aall family at Ulefos manor and the cottage was rented to their loggers / crofters. The view is mainly unchanged since then with the exception of the most recent hydropower plant and dam at the waterfall.

wonderful.

Not really Bandak's Canal, but the Bandak Canal i.e. the Canal leading from the ocean up to lake Bandak. Bandak is not a person, but a lake. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandak. The picture looks like it may have been taken directly above the Vrangfoss locks if I am not mistaken.

Yes, I agree that it resembles Trangen (position UTM32V 6573922N 51137E) in the canalized river from Nomevatn above Vrangefoss. However, there is not such a pathway with an uphill there. Today there is an owergrown path where I suppose there was a short railway from the quarry to the gate construction works downfalls. So short time afterwards also this bank would have been less overgrown. And there is also a small cliff in the river at Trangen, but it is not connected with the gates with this screen wall from upstream, what is the case here. And this screen comes from Vrangfoss. So this is the downstram inlet to Vrangfoss gatelocks (Vrangfoss' underkanal med skjermen) at position UTM 32V 6573542N 512167 E. The pathway is also today used by many canal tourists for a short walk between Eidsfoss and Vrangfoss while the canal boat is being sluiced through. The pathway was later reconstructed and diverted from the original route from the top of the uphill on towards Vrangfoss in the late 1950ies and early 60'ies when hydroelectric stations were constructed in both waterfalls. The old tourist pathway turned right from the top of the hill and crossed Yttingen or Eiebekken brook on a wooden bridge (Børtebrua) that fell down in the 1970'ies but was later reconstructed. The local shop (Børtebua) at Vrangfoss was also situated on the other side of this brook, but must have been out of business since the late 1940'ies. On the other side of the pathway from the shop, close to the river was Kongens utsikt, from where the next picture in this series (with a view of the Vrangfoss locks) is taken.

I'm really liking the colorized look with all of these library of congress shots, good stuff