N°7 – April 2011- 346 SEK

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N°7 – April 2011- 346 SEK N°7 – April 2011- 346 SEK

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The history of this city is connected thus closely to the water, and it is doubtless because of this that Stockholm multiplies initiatives on this theme. For example it’s the only country in the world possessing an urban, partially aquatic, national park, the Nationalstadspark which extends over 27 km ². Side in Kungsträdgården, swans and ducks swim quietly, tourist attractions to them only.

The World Week of the water took place last September in Stockholm. Throughout this week, topics dealt in particular with the quality of

the water, with the prevention and with the fight against the pollution and with the necessary evolution of the politics of the water in front of global changes: forward-looking subjects and sustainable development, by a country which was elected "champion of the environment" in 2010 by the Commission of Brussels.

Finally, Stockholm organizes since 1991 Stockholm Water Prize, which is in the field of the water, the most prestigious

international reward. Every year, an international jury indicated by Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and the Honorary president, His Majesty the King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, are in charge of examining applications and of appointing a prize-winner. The prize is awarded to private individuals, institutions or associations which the work contributed actively to the preservation and to the protection of water resources as well as to the improvement of the human health and the ecosystems.

The reward is a sum of 150 000 dollars and

a crystal sculpture, given during the World Week of the water. So, the 2010-prize returns to the American researcher Rita Colwell for its researches on the diseases connected to the water, specially the cholera. At the national level as international, Stockholm settles as the main defender of water and its preservation. Contributing widely to make the charm of the city, water is so joined into all the memoirs as the fundamental national property

Water, a national heritage

Placed by the sea the Baltic, the city is partially built on approximately one thousand islands among which fourteen main ones, in the mouth of the lake Mälar, what was worth to it (the city), following the example of other European cities, its nickname of Venice of the North. Stockholm was originally built on the small island of Stadsholmen, and then extended in the northern and southern islands. Its history explains its configuration: a very displayed city, with its multiple islands connected by more than fifty bridges!

A significant hasard

As all the cities built in edge of river, Stockholm sometimes undergoes floods. Gamla Stan (the Old Town) is the part of the city the most touched in case of overflowing, because of its position on a small central island of Stockholm. It is in particular this region and its subway line that had suffered from the floods of 2000. The station has having been almost completely flooded.

The cast iron of ices is mostly the main cause of the rise of the water level, at the beginning of March. Heavy rains can also make the river burst its banks and flood the city, as in 1642. Considering this risk, the Swedes organize numerous meetings to get ready for possible floods and improve the communication. In case of emergency, gates can also pass the fresh water of the river in the salt lake Saltsjön.

An economic asset

Water is indispensable to the life, present everywhere in the natural and easily usable. Anyway it isn’t its only advantage for Humans. Accessing to a big quantity of water is a tremendous economic asset, that’s why big cities are often built on rivers. Stockholm doesn’t escape the rule and uses the water by several ways.

• Energy advantage Sweden has a real hydroelectric potential. Streams are plentiful and have a regular regime, with long series of waterfalls and low falls nuclear power plants, producing about 50 % of the electrical energy consumed by the population, and almost 96 % forty years ago. A significant number of power plants are situated in Stockholm, to take best advantage of the river’s energy during the changes of the marine level.

• Fishing advantage In Stockholm, you can fish at thetown center. Two bridges connect the center of Stockholm in Gamla Stan, the old city. There you have chances to catch salmon, trout and other freshwater species. Another possibility is taking a boat to the archipelago. There, in waters surrounding the islands, pike, perch and herring abound. Fishing is a national sport in Sweden, and the urban fishing is commonly practiced.

• Tourism advantage

A nice way to travel to Stockholm, even in winter, is by boat, especially between the ferry and Djurgården Slussen, and excursions to the fun parks Gröna Lund, Astrid Lindgren Children's World and other museums. Boats leave Strmkajen in the center of the city. During the summer, the archipelago is filled with sailboats, a great number of people traveling from island to island.

- Hello Marika Hedin, you are the director of the Vasa Museet in Stockholm, the most visited museum in Scandinavia. What is your museum special ? - Well, this is the only museum in the world to nestle a preserved ship of the seventeenth century. On this ship’s board, we found almost all the objects which were on board at the time, including some sculptures ; which give us valuable information about the society at the time. - Tell us the story of this boat. When was it built? - Between 1626 and 1628. The king, Gustav II of Sweden, had insisted on putting a lot of guns on the upper parts of the ship. It included 64 heavy guns, with bullets over 11kg! The boat was well too unbalanced, but nobody had the courage to tell it to the king. During her maiden voyage on 10th August 1628, the Vasa left the port, but sank a few meters later. - How long did it stay in the water? - 333 years exactly. - It’s in excellent condition after such a long stay in the water! - Indeed this is due to the pollution of the bay of Stockholm. The micro organisms were few and couldn’t eat the wood of the boat.

- So I don’t understand why this extraordinary vessel hasn’t been refloated before 1961? - A month after the tragedy, there have been some attempts at bailouts, but the ship was too heavy and too stuck in the mud. In 1664, a team managed to take 50 cannons off the wreck, but the idea has finally left the minds. Swedes have forgotten this lost ship and only mentioned it in history books…

- …until 1950, when an American engineer began a seemingly senseless quest: finding the wreck of the Vasa after centuries. What benefits do you get now from this discovery? - We found marine munitions who tells us about the struggles of the time. For example, we found the oldest sails in the world, miraculously preserved. But the vessel also contains objects from everyday life, such as coins, clothing ... which provide us guidance on the society time. - Well, thank you for granting us this interview and good luck! - The pleasure is all mine!

Marika Hedin, Vasa Museet director

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