Saimaa

Saimaa
Location	southeastern Finland
Coordinates	61°15′N 28°15′E
Primary outflows	Vuoksi River, Saimaa Canal
Basin countries	Finland
Surface area	4,400 km2 (1,087,264 acres) total (1,377 km2 (340,264 acres) 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
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Saimaa (IPA: [sɑ͡imɑː]), or Saimen in Swedish, is a lake in southeastern Finland. At approximately 4,400 km² square km, it is the largest lake in Finland, and the fourth largest 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).

The Saimaa Canal from Lappeenranta to Vyborg binds Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland. Other canals bind 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.

One of the three species of freshwater seals, the Saimaa Ringed Seal, lives only at Saimaa.

Saimaa highlighted on a satellite photo, Gulf of Finland on the bottom, Lake Ladoga on the right.

See also

• Asbestos-Ceramic

External links

• www.ymparisto.fi - Saimaa, nimet ja rajaukset Template:Fi icon
• Saimaa - Finland´s largest lake
• http://www.gosaimaa.fi/en/ goSaimaa.fi - Information about Lakeland Finland