In most cases a more than one day canoe trip takes place with start from Toerring. Right on the place where Toerring Camp of Tent and Canoe Space riverside to day are situated a danish adventurer, author of travel books, journalist and artist painter, named Hakon Mielche, in 1935 began a canoe trip on Gudenaa river. His canoe trip became the start to a heavy recreative canoe adventureing on the river, as it is going on today. As a reminder of his initiation a monument has been founded at the gate of Toerring Camp of Tent. it has the inscription "From the Gudenaas sources to the expiration in Randers inlet". Randers is Denmarks fifth larges city situated side by side with Fladbro. 14 years later, in 1949, a canoe rental company "Toerring Kanofart" (translates to Toerring Canoespeed) was founded by Arne Falentin Olesen. He drew his canoe rental company in sixty years till the year 2009. Toerring Kanofart is now continuated under a new name "Toerring Kanoudlejning & Kanofart". This canoe rental company are situated cross the street diagonally from Toerring Camp of Tent. Canoe trips normally ends in Fladbro. Though, it is possible to continue into Randers inlet. Look up Fladbro and Randers on map of Gudenaa river.

About 8 km north west of Toerring city in "Tinnet thicket" is found the source of Gudenaas origination. Out there in Tinnet a route for wanderes leads up to the source. All the way to the outflow in Randers inlet Gudenaa runs a stretch of about 165 km (100 miles).

The water of Gudenaa has been exploited in producing hydro power ever since the monks at Foer Monastery for about 800 years ago excavated a channel of lenght about 1300 meter having their watermill running. Corn from country men in the areas around the monastery then had it grained. Later on the hydro power was also exploited in production of electricity. On a stretch of less than 50 km. from Tinnet thicket was build 6 watermills, two cardboard factorys, one knitwear factory and one hydro power station. An alike figur took place along the other stretch of the river. The biggest hydro power station in dk. "Gudenaa Power plant" at Tange is still running.

Gudenaa has been an importen way of transportation. Many towns were created along the river. One of them ,Silkeborg, a town in a region with many lakes and forests, had huge quantities of lumber rafted down-streams. In 1861 it was decided to bring "Hjejlen", a paddle steamer, into motorizing the traffic on the Silkeborg lakes. The paddle steamer was too deep going by the river. Så it was brought to the lakes by dragging it over land. It showed up at once that Hjejlen was not as effective as the existing barges. So Hjejlen was taken out of intended operation. Instead, it became a tour-boat. Today it is running as a tourism attraction on the lakes in the summer periode. The history reports barge transportation on the river earlier than year 1400. The main goods of transportation by these barges was peat, later on bricks and marl. As the trade along the river growed, also did the inns. It is been said that the bargemen, who had the dirty work of going on each side of the river dragging the barges upstreams, had the old saying; Up with the barge and down with the nip. Transportation by barges culminated around 1870 with about 200 barges in operation.

In 1871 a railroad were extended reaching Silkeborg. From then on transportation by the river began to cease. Though, brickyards and marlpits industries continued using barges till year 1921. At that time an abrupt stoppage took place, as a big hydro power plant called "Tangevaerket" was build at Tange. Also stoppage of salmon fishing in the river took place. Both events caused a loss of income for thousands of families. Measured on preterite, Tangevaerket made an extensible electricity production. Notable, Tangevaerket is still running. Though, its production of electricity is at present day a minimal part of Denmarks use of electricity. On a canoe trip passing Tangevaerket, you will have to bear or pull the canoe over land a short distance. This also is the case at another hydro power plant at Westbirk called Westbirk Power Station. "The Association of Canoe Rentals on Gudenaa" has placed some carriages to help you at these points.

The Gudenaa is a stream, where in the seventies of previour century became the first one selected for invironmental protection. This pollution control has given a strong quality improvement of the river water. Workings on reestablishing the original physical condition of the river are intensibly going on, så that fish in the river and birds living along it can have vital necessity. As an example; spawning grounds are established and fry is put out. Salmon is back in the northern part of the river. The following species of fish lives in the river:
Pike-Perch, Brown-Trout, Rainbow-Trout, Bream, Perch, Pike, Roach, Trout, Grayling, Eel

under General info and Sightseeing.

• Canoe rental companies launching canoe trips from Toerring.
• www.gudenaacamping.dk/
• www.kano-udlejning.dk/
• www.kanogudenaa.dk/
• www.kanoferie.dk/

Next year the canoe season starts june 16

Canoespeed in Toerring
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