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.
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.
Address: Retretti Art Center, SF-58450 Punkaharju, Finland
From the turning for Saarijärvi E 75 continues to Äänekoski (pop. 11,000), 1.5km/1mi off the road to the right, a woodworking town (museum of the papermaking firm Metsä-Serla). At the outflow of Lake Keitele is a hydroelectric power station. 8km/5mi southeast is the busy little industrial town of Suolahti (pop. 6,200).
Annualy in July, Äänekoski hosts an international jazz festival that runs for three days highlighting the jazz music scene in Finland.
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.
Address: Heinola Tourist Office, Torikatu 5, SF-18100 Heinola, Finland
This route traverses the eastern part of the Finnish Lakeland. In the southern part of the route the road in places runs close to the Russian frontier.
For the first section of the route, from Helsinki to Lappeenranta, there are alternative possibilities:
The first alternative is on E 75 from Helsinki to Lahti, then on Road 12, which runs east to Kouvola, and from there on Road 6.
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.
E 75 then comes to Jyväskylä, situated on the northern shore of the Jyväsjärvi. Here Road 9 branches off on the right to Kuopio. E 75 continues north, past a side road (No. 13) to the beautifully situated village of Saarijärvi (Kolkanlahti manor house museum; park with aquatic animals).
Address: Saarijärvi Museum, Herajärventie 2, SF-43100 Jyväskylä, Finland
Hours:
January 1 to June 2: 12pm-7pm; Closed: Mon
June 19 to September 8: 12pm-7pm; Closed: Mon
September 9 to December 31: 12pm-7pm; Closed: Mon, Mon
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.
Kelvenne is a high island about 8km long. There are two lakes on the island and two lagoon-type natural harbors. The ancient geological eras have left kettleholes, stony shores and embankments.
This route through the center of the Finnish Lakeland starts from Lahti. From the north end of the town Road 5 runs northeast. Off the road to the right, in a beautiful setting, is Vierumäki, with the National Sports College (main building 1937; can be visited). The road then crosses the Kyminjoki, which flows from Lake Päijänne into the Gulf of Finland, on an arched bridge (fine views).
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.
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.
Address: Kaupungin Matkailutiomisto, Bus Station, Box 113, SF-53101 Lappeenranta, Finland
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.
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).
Address: Pielinen Open-Air Museum, Pappilantie 2, SF-81720 Lieksa, Finland
Hours:
May 15 to September 15: 10am-6pm
September 16 to May 14: 10am-3pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Sat
Tips: From September 16 till May 14 only the Exhibition hall is open.
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).
Address: Lintula Convent, Honkasalontie 3, SF-79830 Palokki, Finland
Hours:
June 1 to August 31: 6am-6pm
Facilities: On-site accomodations, Restaurant or food service
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.
38km/24mi northeast of Jäsmä is Mänttä, a town whose economy depends on woodworking. Here, in Joenniemi, a country house designed by Jarl Eklund (1935), is displayed the fine art collection (including Flemish and Italian masters) of the industrialist Gösta Suerlachius. The road from Jämsä to Mänttä traverses the impressive Synninluko gorge.
The town is also noted for the Mänttä Art Festival in August.
Address: Gösta Serlachius Museum of Fine Arts, Joenniemi Manor, SF-35800 Mänttä, Finland
Hours:
May 1 to August 31: 11am-6pm; Closed: Mon
September 1 to April 30: 12pm-5pm; Wed:2pm-8pm; Closed: Mon, Mon, Tue
Always closed on: May Day / Labor Day (May 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), New Year's Eve (December 31), Independence Day - Finland (December 6), Good Friday - Christian
E 75 continues by way of the beautifully situated village of Korpilahti to Muurame, with a church designed by Alvar Aalto. Beyond this, off the road to the right, is the village of Säynätsalo, with a parish house also designed by Alvar Aalto.
The River Muurame passes through the center of town.
20km/12.5mi beyond the turning for Asikkala, E 75 comes to the village of Padasjoki (pop. 4,800), and then continues by way of Kuhmoinen (side trip to Mt Linnavuori; fine views) to Jämsä (pop. 12,000), an industrial town (papermaking) at a road junction where Road 9 (E 80) goes off to Tampere. Jämsä has an interesting Troll Park.
Pihtipudas lies at the northwestern end of the Kolimajärvi, on the northern border of central Finland. On the shores of the Pyhäjärvi (alt. 141m/463ft) is the mining town of Pyhäsalmi (iron ore, precious metals). Here E 76 leaves the Finnish Lakeland and continues via Kärsämäki and Leskelä to Oulu on the Gulf of Bothnia.
Rauhalinna Villa was built in the late 19th century on the eastern shores of Lake Haukivesi, and was influenced by a number of cultural styles including Russian, Oriental and Swiss. It was built by an officer in the Tsar's army for his wife and now serves as a restaurant and hotel.
Address: Rauhalinna Villa, Lehtiniemi, SF-57310 Savonlinna, Finland
Facilities: On-site accomodations, Restaurant or food service
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").
Address: Riuttala Foundation for the Conservation of Peasant Culture and Heritage, Kissakuusentie 6, SF-72100 Karttula, Finland
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.
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Mikkeli Cathedral, Mikkeli
Mikkeli Cathedral, Mikkeli
