Saima

The Lake Saimaa District forms the largest lake in Finland and the fourth largest in Europe, stretching from Lappeenranta to Mikkeli and Puumala. Lakes Pihlajavesi, Haukivesi, Puruvesi, Orivesi, Pyhäselkä, Kallavesi and Haapajärvi are also part of this Lake District.

A varied archipelago and wide lake middles are typical of the unique Lake Saimaa District. The originality of the clean Saimaa scenery, partly in its natural state, comes from the contrasts: pinecovered eskers with sandy beaches, plane islets with glaciated rock and steep cliff banks plunging into the water. You reach the open lakes and the wide middles of the Lake Saimaa District by zigzagging through a maze of narrow passes, straits and islands.

The area is 4380 square kilometers, length of coast line 14850 kilometers, number of islands 13710, greatest depth over 90 meters, length of marked navigable channel approx. 3000 kilometers, length of deep-water channel fit for freight traffic 770 kilometers, number of harbours 56.