Sweden is near a group of islands and the river access past Stockholm to the ocean is controlled by small locks that allow small ships to come into the city.
The height difference between the ocean and river is not great. So it can run over some small falls. The low falls allow access to the ocean and salmon to come into the city area.

The harbor area of Stockholm is available easily on foot or a short taxi ride. Water taxi's provide sightseeing and cruise out towards the arc and around several islands. Loaded with museums, the harbor area is a great place to spend a few days. The Royal Palace overlooks the harbor and following the crowds brings you to many interesting places.

The city harbor cruise brings you through the channels and out towards the sea. For the approximately $10 cost it is the best way to get an overview of Stockholm. Do this first.  Then move on to the other modes of transportation to get to the points that interest you.

Hard to tell but this picture has snow on the left side as we went
out into the ocean. We then went around the island to the lee side
opposite the canal and as we reentered the harbor again we went by the
custom house (past the harbor buoy) that is multi-story with the red roofs in the background.

The castle is the home of the largest banking
family in Sweden. (Lifestyles of the rich and famous) Across a small
inlet from this castle is another that belongs to

the largest publishing kingpin in Sweden.

Newspaper barons, traders, and bureaucrats lived the elitist lifestyle.

This picture was taken as we were going down the canal between the wildlife
sanctuary and the higher society homes. It opens into the ocean just
ahead when you look out the front of the boat . It was snowing once we got out on the ocean. Waves started coming up too.

 This picture of the
storks nests in the trees along the shore in the sanctuary. T'was a
weird sight. Huge nests!

Old military barracks overlook Stockholm.

It is anchored on an island called Skeppsholmen
where the military had barracks and other training facilities.

An amusement park and the cranes dressed as giraffes help to liven up a bleak cityscape.

Windmill? Yup, and castles and estates of the Swedish wealthy stretch through the coastal harbor.

Outer harbor lighthouse buoy.
The big ships would anchor here and await permission to enter the harbor
and dock. The buoy is actually a beacon to ships and was supposedly one
of the first and a Swedish invention.

The upscale area of the harbor marina. To the left is the Grand Hotel and straight ahead towards the tower is the area where all the nation's embassies are located. Walking paths all along the coast allow strolling on a sunny day. The port to the liners going to Finland are just beyond the tower. 

This picture is of the buildings along the upper class section called Strandvagen along the ocean and across from the islands. Actually I am on a boat taking the picture and we are about to dock near the
palace. This area is across from an island that is called Skansen.

The upscale have their marina and yachts out in front of their residences. On this island which you can barely see to the right are museums and
wildlife refuges and old castles and homes of the rich and famous. Further into this area is one of the homes of ABBA, the singing group.

In the height of the trading times in the harbor this street used to be wharfs and docks. The boats could actually go into the areas that are now between the buildings.