Saimaa Canal

The Saimaa Canal connects Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland at Vyborg, a journey of 43 kilometres through 8 locks. It was originally built by the Tsar in the 1850s to facilitate trade from the Finnish lake region to the sea, and its history is inseparable from Finnish-Russian relations — the canal's lower section passes through territory that was Finnish until the Winter War of 1940.

Boat trips along the canal depart from Lappeenranta harbour and are a popular summer excursion. The canal's working locks, opening for cargo ships and cruise vessels, are fascinating to watch. The canal route to Vyborg, offering a glimpse of Russian Karelia, was suspended during periods of political tension but has historically been available in summer. Check current operating status before planning a trip.

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The original Saimaa Canal, opened in 1856, was one of the great engineering projects of 19th-century Finland — 43 kilometres of cut, lock, and channel connecting the vast inland lake system to the Gulf of Finland. It passed through territory that became Soviet after 1944, making it unusable until a long negotiation produced a new lease agreement. The rebuilt canal, reopened in 1968, still passes through Russian territory for part of its length — ships carrying cargo between Finland and the sea cross an international border twice on every journey.

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