Lahti via Mikkeli and Kuopio to Kajaan

Heinola (pop. 22,000), on the north side of the Jyrängönvirta, a stretch of rapids on the Kyminjoki, is a popular holiday resort offering a number of summer activities as well as an industrial town and an educational center. The town received its charter in 1776 when Gustav III of Sweden promoted its location. Beside the finely situated wooden church (1811) is a belfry (1843) by the Berlin architect C. L. Engel.

From Lusi Road 59 runs north to Jyväskylä, while Road 5 continues northeast through great expanses of forest and past numerous lakes to Mikkeli on Lake Saimaa.

Varkaus (pop. 24,500), is an important industrial town, with sawmills, a paper and cellulose factory, an engineering plant and large shipyards where boats for service on inland waters are built.From Varkaus there are boat services to Kuopio and Savonlinna. Savonlinna can also be reached on a charming minor road which runs along the east side of the Haukivesi.The abundant forests around Varkaus helped to make it a major timer center and a scenic location.

From Varkaus a rewarding excursion can be made to the only two Orthodox religious houses in Finland. Take Road 23, which runs northeast to Karvio (55km/35mi); then turn into a road on the left which leads to the nunnery of Lintula, in the commune of Palokki (open to visitors, cafe, overnight accommodation).

8km/5mi farther along Road 23 another side road on the left leads to the monastery of Uusi Valamo (overnight accommodation), in the commune of Papinniemi, at the southern tip of the Juojärvi. A community of Orthodox monks found a new home here when they were compelled by the Soviet advance in the winter of 1940 to leave their old monastery of Valamo on an island in Lake Ladoga. They were able to bring with them many icons and valuable church furnishings. The church of Uusi Valamo, consecrated in 1976, is believed to be the largest Russian Orthodox church outside Russia.

From Varkaus Road 5 continues to the village of Leppävirta with a fine stone-built church dating from 1846, on the northern shore of Lake Unnukka, which is dotted with islands.Farther north is Vehmasmäki, with a farmyard zoo which appeals particularly to children.

A few kilometers before Kuopio a road goes off on the left to Kartula (36km/22mi). At Riuttala, to the north of this road, is a large Farmhouse Museum, with displays of implements and machinery, a farmstead and livestock kept in 19th century fashion. The farm is still operational.At Tervo, 14km/8.5mi from Kartula, is the large angling center of Lohimaa ("Salmon Land").

The industrial town of Iisalmi (pop. 24,000) is on the northern shore of Porovesi. This was the birthplace of the poet Juhani Aho (1861-1821), who founded the Realist school of literature in Finland at a time when the country was in the throes of industrialization. To the north of the town is the old wooden parish church of Iisalmi.The town hosts a number of cultural events throughout the year including a day to sell items that are no longer needed, there is everything from sewing needles to restored cars or tractors.