Strong winds clear algae from popular tourist canal

Frederik VII’s Canal in North Jutland has reopened after two weeks of closure due to thick algae, with strong winds sweeping the growth out to Limfjord, DR reports.

Anders Bloksgaard, director of Limfjordsmuseet, said the museum had to turn away visitors during the shutdown. The canal, a summer hotspot for boat tours, normally carries over 500 passengers weekly.

“We’ve had a spell of really bad North Jutland weather, and it’s given the canal a lifeline,” Bloksgaard said. “The algae have been blown away.”

He warned the problem could return quickly with warmer temperatures, noting this summer’s infestation is the worst in his 20 years at the museum. The museum now plans to buy a DKK 1 million electric tour boat, as the current diesel vessel cannot operate in heavy algae. The switch would also reduce environmental impact.

The 4.4 km canal, dug by hand in 1861, once bypassed the shallow Løgstør Grunde for up to 3,000 ships annually. It lost its commercial role after a navigable channel was built in the fjord and closed in 1913. The museum aims to restore full passage for masted ships.