Kutvele Canal, canal on the border of Ruokolahti and Taipalsaari, Finland
Kutvele Canal is a narrow waterway running between Ruokolahti and Taipalsaari that cuts through the tip of Kyläniemi island. About 250 meters long with a depth of roughly 2.4 meters, it connects different parts of the Saimaa lake system and is now served by a ferry that operates across approximately 450 meters of water.
Built in the 1790s during the conflict between Sweden and Russia, the canal was constructed to strengthen military defense and improve navigation through border waters. After peace returned, it lost its military purpose but was enlarged in the early 1900s and reinforced with stone walls to accommodate larger vessels.
The canal was named after Russian general Alexander Suvorov, who ordered its construction. Local residents have long relied on this waterway as a vital link to island communities and as a symbol of the region's shared past.
The canal is bordered by walking paths that invite visitors to explore, particularly during warmer months when ferry service is most active. Access to the island is primarily by ferry, which accommodates vehicles and pedestrians and runs regularly between the mainland and Kyläniemi.
By cutting through Kyläniemi island, the canal severed all road access to the mainland, making the ferry the only way to reach the community living there. This isolation has shaped island life for centuries and today makes it a peaceful place accessible only by water.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
