Saimaa, Freshwater lake in Northern Savonia, Finland
Saimaa is a large freshwater lake that spreads across southeastern Finland, with countless islands and waterways creating a complex network of bays and passages. The water is surrounded by forests and dotted with small towns and villages along its shores.
The water body formed thousands of years ago as glacial ice retreated at the end of the last Ice Age, leaving behind massive amounts of meltwater. This geological process created the complex landscape of islands and channels that exists today.
Towns around the lake, such as Lappeenranta and Savonlinna, show how fishing and boat life remain part of local identity. You can see traditional wooden buildings and harbors that reflect how water shaped the way people here have lived for centuries.
The lake can be reached from several shore towns, and there are various ways to explore the water, from driving to taking boat trips. Summer is the best season to visit when the water is ice-free and the weather is mild.
These waters are home to a rare seal species found nowhere else in the world in freshwater form. The animals are highly adapted to this specific environment and remind visitors of the lake's ecological importance.
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