Hand-operated Sluice Gate at Storestraumen between Åraksfjorden and Byglandsfjorden. The lock was built in 1869 to allow ships to pass through.
Storestraumen is part of the Otra river system and it is one of the tightest points in the entire river course. From ancient times, Byglandsfjorden was much lower than Åraksfjorden.
The first lock keeper was Knut Åsulvson Stigemo from the Stigemo farm. When he became too old to work on the lock, other farmhands took care of the lock as it was not a public position.
In 1917 a hydroelectric power plant and a dam were built north of Evje. After that, the water level in the Byglandsfjord rose and the lock gradually became redundant.
In the summer, an old tourist boat sails through the lock system, otherwise it is no longer in use.
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