The Dead Falls

Immediately below the former Lake Ragunda in the Indal River, there was until 1796 one of the most impressive waterfalls in Sweden, the magnificent Grand Rapids, with a total height of approximately 35 meters. The Grand Rapids made timber floating from the large woods above the fall impossible, as timber was crushed like sticks in the raging whirls.

In the beginning of the 18th century a link for floating timber was planned to bypass the Grand Rapids. Due to several reasons it was never realised until Magnus Huss, Wild Huss, a merchant from Sundsvall, was commissioned to realise the project. His idea was to divert water from Boäng Creek on the west side to the gravel plateau, damming Lake Ragunda to let the water from the creek dig a canal, bypassing the Grand Rapids at the river´s present position.

The spring runoff 1796 in the Indal River was so high that the water started running through the canal, cutting itself through the gravel barrier. A violent wave cut through the gravel barrier on the night between June 6th and June 7th, the entire Lake Ragunda was emptied and disappeared in 4 hours. The river had changed its course. The Grand Rapids had dried out and silenced — and became the Dead Falls. At a rock treshold, in the bottom of the former Lake Ragunda, a new waterfall was formed - Hammar Rapids close to Hammarstrand, presently serving as a hydroelectrric power station.

Water masses continued through the valley, causing a tremendous destruction. The water devastated everything in its way. Houses, barns, saw mills, mill houses, boats, woods and fields were taken along the river and destroyed. Strangely enough, no human lives were taken by the huge wave. Accidents happened later though, due to erosion and earth slides, caused by changes in the river bottom.

Huge compensation claims against shareholders in the Grand Rapids Company  were made from people living below the falls. From this time though, it was possible to float timber in the river and on the former bottoms of Lake Ragunda lots of land has been gained for cultivating and grazing.

The Wild Huss himself is said to have drowned during a boat trip along the river. A memory stone is erected at the old churchyard in Liden, outside Sundsvall. In memory of his being burried there.

In the Dead Falls and the canyon below, at the present Flax Tarn, you can study the impressive tracks from ravaging waters. Planked paths, where the traversability is facilitated by steps and bridges, to a certain point adapted for those in wheelchair, wind through the area.

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You can visit Dead Falls during the snow free part of the year.
You can have a walk around in the area free of charge.

Parking fee and toilets.

Tourist information +46 (0)696-68 20 90
www.ragunda.se/turism