Puumala, municipality in the region of Southern Savonia in Finland
Puumala is a small municipality on a group of islands in the middle of Lake Saimaa in southern Finland. The area spans about a thousand islands with rocky shores, pine forests, and numerous bays that create an intricate landscape surrounded by water.
Puumala has its roots as a fishing and boat-building town where people benefited from their proximity to the lake for centuries. A historic windmill was built in the 1800s, showing the importance of agriculture at that time, and the region bears traces of prehistoric settlements with rock paintings.
The name Puumala comes from the Finnish word "puu", meaning wood, reflecting the region's historical connection to forestry and timber. Today, visitors can see this relationship with nature in how homes face the water and how boat trips and outdoor activities shape daily life here.
Puumala is best reached by car or boat and lies between the larger towns of Savonlinna and Lappeenranta. The best time to visit is summer, when the lakes are ice-free and boat trips, hiking, and other water activities are possible.
Puumala is home to the rare Saimaa ringed seal, a seal species found only in this lake and numbering around 400 individuals, making it a symbol of the lake. Visitors can attempt to see these protected animals basking on rocks during special boat trips in spring.
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