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Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen), CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Punkaharju is a glacial land form – a narrow winding esker formed from gravel, stones and sand in a tunnel under the ice during the last glaciation. Walk or bike along the paths, climb it, drive on the highway along it, see it from a rowing boat or from the observation deck of Punkaharju water tower. Part of the ridge is a nature reserve with trails, lookout points, camp fire site and rental cabin. The area offers very nice lake sceneries, a national landscape of Finland portrayed by many Finnish and foreign artists. Hiking trails connect you to services.
Punkaharju is an esker (ridge) in South Savo, southeastern Finland. It separates two lakes of the Saimaa lake system, Puruvesi and Pihlajavesi, with only a narrow strip of dry land and a series of islands visible above water.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Lusto Suomen Metsämuseo
National forest museum: learn about Finland's forests and forestry.
The Punkaharju arboretum covers more than 150 hectares of research forest, consisting of more than 50 species of trees, mostly conifers. Since the 1990s, the arboretum has been thoroughly renewed and developed, aiming to collect all the conifer and hardwood species that could thrive in the local conditions.
Basically a water-themed playground geared towards younger children.
Punkaharjun Tuunaanportti
Holiday resort. Rent a kayak and accessories and take a trip on Lake Saimaa. It is easy and enjoyable even for beginners. The rental should be booked in advance during the summer season. They will also lend you a waterproof map in the rental and suggest trip options. Other equipment that can be rented includes: bikes, skike roller skates, scooters, rowing boats, and motor boats. If you plan to stay over night, the accommodation can be booked in comfortable cottages, which are quite similar to those of Punkaharjun lomakeskus.
Kuikonniemen linnoitus
World War II fortification structures build in 1940-1944.