Riksäpplet, 17th century warship wreck near Dalarö, Sweden.
Riksäpplet is a 17th-century warship that rests at approximately 15 meters depth near Aspön in the Stockholm archipelago. The wooden hull and scattered artifacts remain on the seabed, creating an underwater archaeological site that reflects the ship's original size and structure.
The ship was built in 1661 at the Gamla Varvet shipyard in Gothenburg and launched as a heavily armed 47-meter vessel. During a storm in June 1676, it sank near Dalarö fortress in the Stockholm archipelago.
The name Äpplet, meaning 'the apple' in Swedish, comes from the vessel's original name and was given to the rock formation where it sank. Locals continue to use this name when referring to the area, keeping the ship's memory alive in everyday geography.
The wreck is accessible to experienced divers under suitable conditions, though visiting typically requires proper diving certification and planning. The Maritime Museum in Stockholm displays artifacts recovered from the site, offering those unable to dive an alternative way to see preserved objects from the ship.
Black oak timber salvaged from the wreck through controlled blasting in 1868 was later repurposed to construct gates for Stockholm City Hall. This wood created an unexpected link between the sunken ship and one of the city's most recognizable buildings.
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