Punkaharju

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.