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Largest lake in Finland and the fourth-largest in Europe
Photo: Adrián Pérez from Helsinki, Finland, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Lush islands and rocky islets. Best explored by boat or canoe, but there is a boat service to the main island and taxi boats available. Nature trails, an old croft, Saimaa seals and osprays. Tour skating in winter.
A labyrinth of islands with rocky cliffs by narrow channels. Ancient rock paintings and the Saimaa ringed seal. Best explored with a canoe. Motor boats are off limits in most of the park.
By boat
Saimaa is accessible from the Gulf of Finland (and thus from the oceans) through the Saimaa Canal locks, by own yacht or by cruise; however, the canal goes via Russia, and the border is closed as of…
By cruise ship
Several companies arranging tours with historic steamers or newer vessels. Not the mastodons of the oceans, but for some 100–200 passengers.
By canoe
There are endless archipelagos to explore. The Kolovesi National Park and Linnansaari National Park are arguably best experienced from a kayak or canoe.
By boat
The fairways for larger freighters, with endpoints in Mikkeli (Ristiina), Kuopio and Joensuu, guarantee enough height and depth for any yacht.
By cycle
Saimaa Archipelago Route (Saimaan saaristoreitti) is a traditional and popular 154 km long cycling route in the southern Saimaa region.
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Lappeenranta · International · LPP
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Joensuu, the second largest city in Eastern Finland and the capital of North Karelia, and at the outfall of the river Pielisjoki. The city centre is on the right bank of the river around the main square, and this is the place to find sights, restaurants, hotels and shops.
The City of Lappeenranta (population 73,000 in 2023) is the economic and cultural centre of Finnish South Karelia.
Imatra (population ca. 30,000) is an industrial town in South Karelia.
Savonlinna (Swedish: Nyslott) is a small city in South Savonia province, Eastern Finland, close to the Russian border. Savonlinna is one of the iconic tourism destinations of Finland with traditions of hospitality going back to the 19th century.
Mikkeli (St. Michel in Swedish) is a cozy town in South Savonia province, Eastern Finland with a population of 54,400.
Varkaus is a town in North Savonia. The adjacent municipalities of Joroinen and Kangaslampi are also handled in this article.
Saimaa (Saimen in Swedish) is a lake in south-eastern Finland. At 1,147 km² (443 square miles), it is the largest lake in Finland, and the fifth largest in Europe.
Rantasalmi is in South Savonia, in the Finnish Lakeland, Finland.
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