Lake Päijänne

The Esker Islands and the sandy shores and bays of Lake Päijänne invite you to go out on the water by boat or canoe, or to enjoy the view of the Finnish lake landscape on a hike.

With an area of almost 1,080 square kilometers, Päijänne is the second largest lake in Finland. It is about 135 kilometers long and between 3 and 29 kilometers wide and is interrupted by countless islands. In the midst of its open waters is a treasure for nature lovers: Päijänne National Park, which is located in the southern part of the lake and includes about 50 islands consisting of steep rocks or sandy eskers. One of the most beautiful parts of the national park is located on the esker island Kelvenne. There you can discover the entire length of the island and its diverse nature, shaped by the ice age, on a 9-kilometer hiking trail.

Jyväskylä in the north and Heinola in the southeast of the lake form the most important cities and are connected by boat through the Vesijärven Canal with the major city of Lahti, located south of Päijänne. The shorelines of Päijänne are densely forested and are home to many timber operations here, which use the lake as a means of transportation. Until the 1940s, Lake Päijänne was an important transport channel for passengers and freight between towns on the shores of Lake Päijänne. Today, passenger traffic on the lake is more of a tourist attraction than the fastest connection between towns and villages.

Lake Päijänne and National Park leaves nothing to be desired in terms of leisure activities. Here is really something for everyone. The second largest lake in Finland is a dream come true for water lovers, it can be explored very well by sailing or motor boat or on a canoe tour. In addition, you can discover the underwater world of the lake on a dive. Päijänne is also a very popular destination among fishing enthusiasts. Apart from that, you can explore the national park on countless varied hiking trails and stop at many different campfire and tent sites. Unusually, Pulkkilanharju Island is a very popular place to watch bird migration, attracting hundreds of birdwatchers every year. So, if you are lucky, you can spot a black-throated diver, a tree hawk or a black-headed gull.

As you can see, there is super much to experience and discover, so it's no wonder that Lake Päijänne is among the most beautiful lakes in Finland heard