Saimaa

Saimaa
View from Joutseno town in western direction.
Location	southeastern Finland
Coordinates	61°15′N 028°15′E / 61.250°N 28.250°E / 61.250; 28.250Coordinates: 61°15′N 028°15′E / 61.250°N 28.250°E / 61.250; 28.250
Primary outflows	Vuoksi River, Saimaa Canal
Basin countries	Finland
Surface area	4,400 km2 (1,700 sq mi) total (1,377 km2 (532 sq mi) largest basin)
Average depth	17 m (56 ft)
Max. depth	82 m (269 ft)
Water volume	36 km3 (8.6 cu mi)
Shore length1	13,700 km (8,500 mi)
Surface elevation	76 m (249 ft)
Islands	3507
Settlements	Lappeenranta, Imatra, Savonlinna, Mikkeli, Joensuu
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Saimaa is a lake in southeastern Finland. At approximately 4,400 square kilometres (1,700 sq mi), it is the largest lake in Finland, and the fourth largest natural freshwater lake in Europe. It was formed by glacial melting at the end of the Ice Age. Major towns on the lakeshore include Lappeenranta, Imatra, Savonlinna, Mikkeli, Varkaus, and Joensuu. The Vuoksi River flows from Saimaa to Lake Ladoga. Most of the lake is spotted with islands, and narrow canals divide the lake in many parts, each having their own names (major basins include Suur-Saimaa, Orivesi, Puruvesi, Haukivesi, Yövesi, Pihlajavesi, and Pyhäselkä). Thus, Saimaa exhibits all major types of lake in Finland at different levels of eutropification.

In places in the Saimaa basin (an area larger than the lake), "there is more shoreline here per unit of area than anywhere else in the world, the total length being nearly 15,000 kilometres (9,300 mi). The number of islands in the region, 14,000, also shows what a maze of detail the system is."

The Saimaa Canal from Lappeenranta to Vyborg connects Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland. Other canals connect Saimaa to smaller lakes in Eastern Finland and form a network of waterways. These waterways are mainly used to transport wood, minerals, metals, pulp and other cargo, but also tourists use the waterways.