Helsinki via Lappeenranta and Joensuu to Kajaani

Kouvola (pop. 32,200) is the administrative center of Kymi province, with an Academy of Music and the Tykkimäki family amusement park. The town is also near the Repovesi National Park.6.5km/4mi northwest, on the Kymenjoki, is the industrial town of Kuusankoski (large paper mills). 12km/7.5mi north is Jaala, with the old Verla pulp and paper factory, closed down in 1964 and now a museum.

47km/29mi north of Kouvola is the Orilampi leisure center on Vuohinjärvi (water sports, tennis).At Kouvola Road 15, coming from Kotka on the Gulf of Finland, joins Road 6, which is now followed to Lappeenranta.The other route from Helsinki to Lappeenranta runs farther south. It leaves Helsinki on Road 7, which skirts the Gulf of Finland at some distance from the coast. It then continues by way of Porvoo, Loviisa (remains of town walls) and Kotka and comes to the junction with Road 15, which is followed to Kouvola.

The village of Anjala has a manor house of 1790, now a museum, and a fine wooden church of 1756. From here the road continues via Myllykoski (paper-mill) to Kouvola.

From Kouvola, Road 6 leads east along the north edge of the Salpausselkä ridge to Lappeenranta, at the south end of Lake Saimaa, and 7km/4.5mi beyond this crosses the Saimaa Canal at Lauritsala.Imatra, only 6.5km/4mi from the Russian frontier, has large timber-processing plants. Farther northwest, at Särkisalmi, Road 14 branches off on the left, offering an attractive side trip to Savonlinna.

The road to Savonlinna passes through Punkaniemi, on the Punkasalmi, which links the Puruvesi, to the north, with the Väistönselkä. It then continues alongside the railroad on a narrow causeway and along the Punkaharju ridge (7km/4.5mi long and up to 25m/80ft high; nature reserve). The ridge, deposited by the melt-waters of the last ice age, falls steeply down on both sides and is covered with pine, larch and birch forest (marked footpaths). A tourist attraction for families with children is the "Summerland" leisure park at Punkaharju.

Close by Punkaharju is the Retretti Art Center (opened 1983), which puts on exhibitions of Finnish and international art in summer. Part of the center was blasted out of the rock.

At Antola the route turns off Road 14 and follows Road 71, which goes off on the right to Kerimäki, on the west bank of the Puruvesi. Kerimäki is famed for its large wooden church (designed by A. F. Granstedt; consecrated 1847), which was built at the expense of a local man who had emigrated to the United States. The large size of the church is said to be due to the fact that the measurements on the plan, in feet, were interpreted as meters. It has 3,000 seats and can hold up to 5,000 people. Some of the events in the Savonlinna Festival of Opera are staged in the church.At Puhos the route rejoins Road 6, which runs north up the east side of the Puruvesi.

The road from Lappeenranta to Kajaani goes through Onkamo and Pyhäselkä and comes to Joensuu, chief town of northern Karelia. From here Road 17 runs west to Kuopio.The route continues on Road 18 to a junction at Uuro.

Road 73 to the right, via Eno, comes to Uimaharju at the south end of Lake Pielinen (area 1,095sq.km/423sq.mi), and continues along the east side of the lake, through beautiful scenery.From the south end of Lake Pielinen the Pielisjoki (with several locks) provides a link with Lake Saimaa.

Lieksa has an open-air museum, with 60 old buildings, and a modern church (1982), replacing an earlier one which was burned down in 1979. This is a popular water sports center.A possible excursion from here is to the Ruunaa rapids (25km/15mi northeast).

Lieksa Brass Week began in 1979 and has since brought world-renowned brass musicians together for a week of concerts and parades.The festival is held in late July each year and features a different instrument.There concerts range from church performances to evening dances and include everything from Dixieland Jazz to salsa, to classical.

Continuing along the shores of Lake Pielinen, Road 73 comes in 56m/35mi to the little town of Nurmes (pop. 11,000), laid out on a regular grid on the slopes of a hill, with beautiful avenues of birch trees. Features of interest are the old part of the town, with wooden houses dating from the turn of the century, and the small Municipal Museum which occupies the Ikola House in the northern district of Porokylä. On the main road from the south is a reconstruction of the Karelian village of Bomba, with holiday chalets, leisure facilities, restaurants and an open-air theater (festival in summer).In another 5km/3mi Road 73 rejoins Road 18.

From the road junction at Uuro Road 18 runs north to the Karjajanselkä ridge, which follows the southwest side of Lake Pielinen. At Ahmovaara a road goes off on the right to the Koli Hills.

Juuka, a straggling village on the west side of Lake Pielinen, has a wooden church with a free-standing tower.It is a popular destination for skiing and hiking.

Road 18 continues northwest, crossing the Suomenselkä ridge, and at Kajaani joins Road 22, which leads to Oulu.