Saimaa Canal

canal, Finland

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July 13, 2026

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The Saimaa Canal is an artificial waterway in southeastern Finland that connects Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland. Construction of the canal began in 1856, and it was reopened in 1968 after reconstruction and modernization, which included replacing 28 older locks with eight larger ones.12

The Great Saimaa lake system, of which Lake Saimaa is the primary component, is the largest in Finland. The canal plays a vital role in the region's economy by providing essential transportation links for lumbering and pulp and paper manufacturing. Additionally, hydroelectric-power stations are located in the southern part of the lake system. The scenic beauty of the region, with its mosaic of water, hills, and forests, also attracts many tourists.1

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canals and inland waterways
Major inland waterways of Europe
…connecting canals; the second, the Saimaa Canal, in southeast Finland, connecting the vast Saimaa Lake system to the sea, was being reconstructed at the time of World War II. After the Soviet-Finnish War, part was ceded to the Soviet Union, but in 1963 it was leased back to Finland, modernization…
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…connecting canals; the second, the Saimaa Canal, in southeast Finland, connecting the vast Saimaa Lake system to the sea, was being reconstructed at the time of World War II. After the Soviet-Finnish War, part was ceded to the Soviet Union, but in 1963 it was leased back to Finland, modernization…
Read More