Päijänne
Encyclopedia
Lake Päijänne (ˈpæiænːe) is the second largest lake
in Finland
(1080 km² (266,874 acre)). The lake drains into the Gulf of Finland
via the Kymi River
. The major islands are from north to south Vuoritsalo, Muuratsalo, Onkisalo, Judinsalo, Edessalo, Taivassalo
, Haukkasalo
, Vehkasalo, Mustassalo, Virmailansaari and Salonsaari. The largest island is Virmailansaari. The word saari means an island. Salo meant before a great island, nowadays it means a great forest area.
Largest city on the shores of Päijänne is Jyväskylä
in the North. The city of Lahti
is connected to Päijänne through Lake Vesijärvi and Vääksy canal.
An underground aqueduct
, Päijänne Water Tunnel
, connects the lake to Helsinki
, providing the capital area with water. The deepest point in any lake in Finland is located in Päijänne (95.3 m).
, canoing and sailing
attraction. The 119 km long lake is connected by canals to Lake Keitele
, Lake Vesijärvi and to Lake Ruotsalainen. Length of the open waterway for ships is 380 km. Construction of canals connecting Päijänne to the Baltic Sea
has been discussed for decades. Nevertheless, the plan is still to be materialized.
Until 1940s the Lake Päijänne was a major transportation channel in the Central Finland
. Numerous ships transported passengers and freight between the villages and cities on the shores of Päijänne. Nowadays, passenger transportation is rather a tourist attraction on the lakelands than the fastest way connecting the cities and villages.
In addition to cottage tourism Päijänne attracts fishing, sailing, canoing, rowing, paddling, trekking, ice-skating, snow mobile and nature tourists. The National Parks of Päijänne and Leivonmäki alone has tens of thousands of visitors every year.
The Clear and Drinkable Lake Päijänne South Association won a Tourism and Environment award presented by the European Union Commission in 1995.
(Finnish: Päijänteen kansallispuisto) is a national park in the southern parts of Lake Päijänne. It consists of 50 unbuilt islands and parts of inhabited islands. The national park has been established in 1993 and has an area of 14 square kilometres (5.4 sq mi).
Leivonmäki National Park
is situated few kilometres North East from the Northern part of Lake Päijänne. It is one of the youngest national parks in Finland.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
(1080 km² (266,874 acre)). The lake drains into the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
via the Kymi River
Kymi River
Kymi river is a river in Finland. It begins from the lake Päijänne, flows through the provinces of Päijät-Häme, Uusimaa and Kymenlaakso and discharges into the Gulf of Finland. River passes the towns of Heinola and Kouvola...
. The major islands are from north to south Vuoritsalo, Muuratsalo, Onkisalo, Judinsalo, Edessalo, Taivassalo
Taivassalo
Taivassalo is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Finland Proper region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
, Haukkasalo
Haukkasalo
Haukkasalo is an island in Lake Paijanne. It is located at latitude 61.71667 and longitude 25.43333.It is the third largest island in Lake Paijanne.Visitors can access Haukkasalo by road, ferry or private boat....
, Vehkasalo, Mustassalo, Virmailansaari and Salonsaari. The largest island is Virmailansaari. The word saari means an island. Salo meant before a great island, nowadays it means a great forest area.
Largest city on the shores of Päijänne is Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä
Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
in the North. The city of Lahti
Lahti
Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki...
is connected to Päijänne through Lake Vesijärvi and Vääksy canal.
An underground aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
, Päijänne Water Tunnel
Päijänne Water Tunnel
The Päijänne Water Tunnel , located in Southern Finland, is the world's second longest continuous rock tunnel . It is long and runs 30–100 meters under the surface in bedrock...
, connects the lake to Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, providing the capital area with water. The deepest point in any lake in Finland is located in Päijänne (95.3 m).
Transportation
Päijänne is a famous boatingBoating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, canoing and sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
attraction. The 119 km long lake is connected by canals to Lake Keitele
Lake Keitele
Keitele is a lake located in central Finland. With the area of 493.59 km² it is the 9th largest lake in the country. The lake is divided into three regions, Ylä-, Keski-, and Ala-Keitele, of which Keski-Keitele is the largest. Water in the lake is clear and in an excellent condition...
, Lake Vesijärvi and to Lake Ruotsalainen. Length of the open waterway for ships is 380 km. Construction of canals connecting Päijänne to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
has been discussed for decades. Nevertheless, the plan is still to be materialized.
Until 1940s the Lake Päijänne was a major transportation channel in the Central Finland
Central Finland
Central Finland is a region in Finland. It borders to the regions Päijänne Tavastia, Pirkanmaa, Southern Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia, Northern Ostrobothnia, Northern Savonia and Southern Savonia....
. Numerous ships transported passengers and freight between the villages and cities on the shores of Päijänne. Nowadays, passenger transportation is rather a tourist attraction on the lakelands than the fastest way connecting the cities and villages.
| Name | Built | Passengers | Length | Width | Speed | Home harbour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M/S Aino | 1922 | 90 | 17,20 m | 4,10 m | 11 knots | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... |
| M/S Elbatar | 1984 | 90 | 16,08 m | 4,78 m | 11 knots | Padasjoki Padasjoki Padasjoki is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .... |
| M/S Charlotte | Padasjoki Padasjoki Padasjoki is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .... |
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| M/S Happy Days | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... |
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| M/S Hilja | 1902 | 60 | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... , charter ferry |
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| M/S Jenni-Maria II | 1970 | 30 | 15,30 m | 3,80 m | 15 knots | Sysmä Sysmä Sysmä is a municipality of Finland situated in Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is.The municipality is unilingually Finnish.... |
| M/S Katrilli | 80 | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... , charter ferry |
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| M/S Kymppi | 77 | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... , charter ferry |
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| S/S Laitiala | 1903 | 130 | 26,7 m | 6,64 m | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... , charter ferry |
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| M/S Meininki | 1970 | 30 | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... , charter ferry |
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| M/S Minni | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... |
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| M/S Päijänne | 50 | 20 m | 5 m | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... , charter ferry |
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| M/S Rhea | 43 m | 18,2 m | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... |
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| M/S Rosetta | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... , charter ferry |
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| M/S Ruotsalainen | 22,10 m | 5,32 m | Asikkala Asikkala Asikkala is a municipality of Finland. Its seat is in Vääksy.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water... |
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| M/S Salome | 18,90 m | 4,35 m | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... , charter ferry |
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| M/S Suometar | 199 | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... |
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| M/S Suomen Neito | 199 | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... |
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| M/S Suomen Suvi | 1993 | 199 | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... |
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| S/S Suomi | 1906 | 199 | 31,60 m | 2,13 m | Jyväskylä Jyväskylä Jyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded... |
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| M/S Terhi | 199 | Heinola Heinola Heinola is a town and a municipality of inhabitants located in the Province of Southern Finland. Heinola is perhaps best known for its summer activities such as the Sauna-sitting World Championships.-History:... |
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| M/S Tuulikki II | 170 | Jämsä Jämsä Jämsä is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .... |
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| M/S Tuulikki III | 80 | Jämsä Jämsä Jämsä is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is .... |
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| M/S Wellamo | 1990 | 190 | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... |
Tourism
There are 16.000 cottages on the shores of Päijänne. Most of the cottages are private owned and have a separate sauna cottage.In addition to cottage tourism Päijänne attracts fishing, sailing, canoing, rowing, paddling, trekking, ice-skating, snow mobile and nature tourists. The National Parks of Päijänne and Leivonmäki alone has tens of thousands of visitors every year.
The Clear and Drinkable Lake Päijänne South Association won a Tourism and Environment award presented by the European Union Commission in 1995.
National Parks
Päijänne National ParkPäijänne National Park
Päijänne National Park is a national park in Finland, in the southern parts of Lake Päijänne. It consists of 50 unbuilt islands and parts of inhabited islands. The national park has been established in 1993 and has an area of .-External links:*...
(Finnish: Päijänteen kansallispuisto) is a national park in the southern parts of Lake Päijänne. It consists of 50 unbuilt islands and parts of inhabited islands. The national park has been established in 1993 and has an area of 14 square kilometres (5.4 sq mi).
Leivonmäki National Park
Leivonmäki National Park
Leivonmäki National Park is a national park in Central Finland. It was established in 2003 and covers .Typical scenery consists of swamps, shores and esker forests.-External links:*...
is situated few kilometres North East from the Northern part of Lake Päijänne. It is one of the youngest national parks in Finland.
Cities and towns upon the Lake Päijänne
From North to South- JyväskyläJyväskyläJyväskylä is the capital of Central Finland and the largest city on the Finnish Lakeland, north-east of Tampere and north of Helsinki, on northern coast of lake Päijänne. The city has been continuously one of the most rapidly growing cities in Finland since World War II. The city is surrounded...
(at 62°14.5′N 025°44.5′E) - Säynätsalo (at 62°8.25′N 25°46.9′E)
- MuurameMuurameMuurame is a municipality of Finland, located south-west of Jyväskylä. Muurame itself is located between two lakes, Lake Päijänne and Lake Muuratjärvi. These two lakes are connected to each others via River Muurame. River Muurame streams through the population center of Muurame...
(at 62°07.45′N 25°40.20′E) - ToivakkaToivakkaToivakka is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland, near Jyväskylä and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
(at 62°06′N 026°05′E) - KorpilahtiKorpilahtiKorpilahti is a former municipality of Finland. Together with Jyväskylän maalaiskunta, Korpilahti was consolidated with Jyväskylä on January 1, 2009....
(at 62°01.00′N 025°33.40′E) - JämsäJämsäJämsä is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
(at 61°52′N 025°11′E) - LuhankaLuhankaLuhanka is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
(at 61°48′N 025°42′E) - JoutsaJoutsaJoutsa is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
(at 61°44.5′N 026°07′E) - KuhmoinenKuhmoinenKuhmoinen is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Finland region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
(at 61°34′N 025°11′E) - SysmäSysmäSysmä is a municipality of Finland situated in Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is.The municipality is unilingually Finnish....
(at 61°30′N 025°40′E) - PadasjokiPadasjokiPadasjoki is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is ....
(at 61°21′N 025°16.5′E) - AsikkalaAsikkalaAsikkala is a municipality of Finland. Its seat is in Vääksy.It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Päijänne Tavastia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
(at 61°10.20′N 025°32.50′E)