You are here: 
The Telemark Canal – minute by minute
The Telemark Canal – minute by minute
After the huge success in showing Hurtigruten and the Bergen Railway minute by minute on national television, The Telemark Canal with M/S Victoria will be broadcasted live Sunday 26 August. This beautiful journey through Telemark from Skien to Dalen takes 10 hours and 20 minutes.
NRK (The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation) describes the Telemark Canal as a journey through magical scenery, from fjord to mountains. “From narrow gorges, through locks and over open lakes it will be a journey of contrasts with a lot of history attached to it. We look forward to show our viewers a hidden Norwegian treasure”, says Rune Møklebust from NRK Hordaland who will be responsible for the programme.
The NRK broadcast will take place on the canal boat M/S Victoria, which celebrates its 130th anniversary this year. The Telemark Canal celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2011.
A “happening” in Norway
We are sure this broadcast will show the bustling life along and on the canal. All the canal boats will be travelling their regular schedules, and the passengers will do their utmost to create the great atmosphere you always find along and on the canal. Like during the previous NRK series from Hurtigruten (the Coastal Voyage) and the Bergen Railway, people will greet the boat both from land and from the water; biking, walking, kayaking or with picnics along the route.
About the Telemark Canal
The Telemark Canal was etched in the mountains for well over 100 years ago, and when the canal was completed in 1892 the rest of Europe called it “the eight wonder of the world”. Five hundred men had then worked for five years, blasting their way through the mountains. The canal became known as the “fast route” between eastern and western Norway and was also the most important transport route between upper and lower Telemark for people, domestic animals, goods and timber.
Today it is the tourists from near and far who come to experience this unique watercourse which still remains almost as it was for over a hundred years ago. The stone walls of the locks, the enormous lock gates and even the actual opening and closing mechanism – everything is authentic.
NRK
You can follow the broadcast either on NRK2 (TV), NRK P2 (radio) og on www.nrk.no/telemarkskanalen (from anywhere in the world).