Pålsundsbron ( Swedish : "The Pole Sound/Strait Bridge") is a bridge in central Stockholm , Sweden . Stretching over the small water course Pålsundet, the bridge connects the major island Södermalm to the minor island Långholmen .
7-545: The name Pålsundet , on old maps called Påhl Sundet , or Pålsund , refers to the poles blocking the canal from ships trying to reach central Stockholm without paying the required duty. Also, an iron chain served the same purpose of forcing the ships pay a visit to the custom house ( Winter Tullen ) demolished during the 1930s. The bridge was known as Mälarvarvsbron ("The Mälaren Shipyard Bridge") or more locally Varvsbron until 1948 when it received its present name. The original bridge on this location, after Långholmsbron
14-412: A chain (also boom defence , harbour chain , river chain , chain boom , boom chain or variants) is an obstacle strung across a navigable stretch of water to control or block navigation. In modern times they usually have civil uses, such as to prevent access to a dangerous river channel. But, especially historically, they have been used militarily, with the goal of denying access to an enemy's ships:
21-462: A modern example is the anti-submarine net . Booms have also been used to force passing vessels to pay a toll. A boom generally floats on the surface, while a chain can be on the surface or below the water. A chain could be made to float with rafts, logs, ships or other wood, making the chain a boom as well. Especially in medieval times, the end of a chain could be attached to a chain tower or boom tower . This allowed safe raising or lowering of
28-532: The siege of Damietta , the raid on the Medway and the Battle of Vigo Bay . Frequently, however, attackers instead seized the defences and cut the chain or boom by more conventional methods. The boom at the siege of Derry , for example, was cut by sailors in a longboat . As a key portion of defences, booms were usually heavily defended. This involved shore-based chain towers, artillery batteries, or forts. In
35-410: The chain, as they were often heavily fortified. By raising or lowering a chain or boom, access could be selectively granted rather than simply rendering the stretch of water completely inaccessible. The raising and lowering could be accomplished by a windlass mechanism or a capstan . Booms or chains could be broken by a sufficiently large or heavy ship, and this occurred on many occasions, including
42-416: The second bridge stretching over Pålsundet, was built in 1907 as a wooden truss bridge . It was 3.8 metres in width, with a total length of 56 metres stretching over eight 7 metres long spans, of which the central span was a hand-driven flip bascule extending the horizontal clearance of 3.7 metres. In 1947, the wooden bridge was replaced by a steel arch bridge stretching 52.5 metres in a single span over
49-468: The sound, with a width of 4.5 metres. Its steel arches were used five years earlier for the casting of the concrete arch of Kungsbron . 59°19′12.81″N 18°2′3.03″E / 59.3202250°N 18.0341750°E / 59.3202250; 18.0341750 This article about a bridge in Sweden is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Boom (navigational barrier) A boom or
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