Döda fallet, Naturreservat

In four hours, the landscape was completely transformed. Lake Ragunda emptied and a devastating flood swept through. The year was 1796, and today it is a well-visited and popular excursion destination. It was just over 200 years ago that the mighty Storforsen waterfall became empty and silent. All that remained was a dried-up channel. Today it is a rocky landscape with very few plants. It is called the Dead Fall.

Mighty Storforsen dried up

Below the former Ragundasjön lake in the Indalsälven river was the magnificent Storforsen waterfall. The height of the waterfall was 35 meters. But the huge fall stopped all timber rafting.

It was not possible to let the logs float in the water and end up in Storforsen. Because there they were destroyed. The logs were broken in the foaming water in and after Storforsen.

Canal past Storforsen

So there were ideas of building a water canal, a floodway. After many studies and negotiations in various courts, King Gustav III granted permission to build a canal for rafting in 1779. Work began in 1780 but was stopped a few years later as the method used did not work in practice.

In 1793, the merchant Magnus Huss undertook to resume work on digging a floating channel. In 1795, in the fall, the canal was completed. However, the river was very low and only small amounts of water seeped through.

In 1796, the spring flood was unusually high. The water in Lake Ragundasjön rose considerably. Eventually, the water began to flow through various obstacles. The water reached the new canal that had been dug. Then came the disaster...

Like a tsunami

The water flowed into the canal, which was widened by the water. A huge tidal wave formed. It moved at high speed and emptied the entire lake in four hours. The effects of the failed floodway project were devastating.

Sawmills were destroyed and roads collapsed. Amazingly, no one died in the flood. The legal aftermath was extensive. Much of it concerned compensation for the damage caused, but also the distribution of the new farmland that arose when the entire Lake Ragunda was emptied. Even into the 1970s, there were legal negotiations and court cases concerning the damage in the area.

Waterfall without water

In the area around the Deadfall, unusual shapes can be seen in the area today. They are caused by moving water and rock. Tens of thousands of visitors come every summer to see the waterfall without water and hear the exciting story.

In summer, theater performances are organized at the Dead Fall. If you go there to watch, you will see both theater and a wonderful view at the same time.

Information on accessibility at the Deadfall

Here is more detailed information about the facilities available in the area.