Finnish Lakeland

(Local Name: Järvi-Suomi) Situation and characteristics

The Finnish Lakeland, with its intricately patterned lakes and thousands of islands, covers almost a third of Finland's total area, earning it the name of the "land of 60,000 lakes": in fact the latest count makes the total more than 180,000. To the east the lakes extend to the Russian frontier, on the south they are bounded by the massive terminal moraines of the Salpausselkä and on the north by the Suomenselkä ridge, which forms the watershed between the gulfs of Bothnia and Finland. The harmonious mingling of woodland and water makes this a paradise for nature-lovers and sailing enthusiasts. Within this extensive area in southern Finland are three main lake systems. To the west, north of Tampere, is Näsijärvi, the smallest of the three; in the center the long, straggling Lake Päijänne; and to the east the large Lake Saimaa, which is drained by the river Vuoksen, flowing southeast into Russia. All these lake systems lie between 76 and 78m (250 and 255ft) above sea level.

The Finnish Lakeland is traversed from south to north by three important roads, linked by a number of transverse roads. E 75 runs along the western edge of the lake region from Lahti by way of Jyväskylä and Kärsämäki to Oulu; Road 5 runs through the center of the area from Lahti via Mikkeli and Kuopio; and Roads 6 and 18 extend in a wide arc round the eastern edge of the lake region by way of Lappeenranta and Joensuu to Kajaani and Oulu.