Lake Pielinen

Finland

The fourth largest lake and the highest island in Finland are not only a popular vacation destination, but even become a real highway in winter.

Lake Pielinen is located in eastern Finland in the Karelia region and is a popular destination for nature lovers and fishermen. It is the fourth largest lake in Finland and surrounded by majestic hills and dark pine forests it is the perfect place for a relaxing vacation. Canoeing, swimming, sport fishing and boating in summer and ice fishing and snow sports at the adjacent ski resort in winter are among the most popular activities here, and Koli Mountain in the adjacent Koli National Park offers incredible views of the dark waters of Pielinen.

Pielinen was formed by land uplift after the last ice age. Today, the fourth largest lake in Finland has an area of 894.21 km2 and a coastline length of 1,700 km. The length of the lake is 120km, the width varies from 1km to 40km and at the deepest point the lake is 60m deep. The Pielinen is fed by the rivers Haapajarvi-Valtimojarvi, Saramojoki, Viekinjoki, Lieksanjoki and Juvanjoki. The water then flows through the Pielis River into Lake Saimaa. The dark color of the water, characteristic of Finland, comes from the microorganisms living in it. This makes the Pielinen one of the most beautiful lakes in Finland.

On the west coast is Koli National Park, which is known for beautiful landscapes. In summer there are breathtaking hiking trails, the possibility to rent boats or canoes, a white water rafting center and in winter especially snow sports in the ski resort are popular. Koli Mountain, at 374m above sea level, offers the perfect vantage point to admire the magical lake landscape from above.

There are over 2,000 islands in Pielinen, which vary greatly in size. The largest and with a height of 225m the highest in Finland, is the island of Paalasmaa. Here stands a small watchtower and the remains of old houses, which remind of the past history.

The lake is popular with fishermen mainly because of the great variety of species. So, among others, zander, pike, perch, brown trout and many more can be caught here. When the lake is frozen in winter, it counts as a perfect place for ice fishing. Many local fishermen still use traditional pedal sleds instead of modern snowmobiles, which look like dog sleds, but without the dogs.

Lake Pielinen freezes over completely every winter from about November to May. At this time, the ice is also used as a road, such as the connection between Koli and Vuonislahti. Here, a 7km long road is prepared every year in December at the earliest, on which even cars can drive. This shortens the distance between the two towns by a whole 60km. In addition, the sea route is used throughout the year as a route for timber transport.

Since the region around the lake is well served by the road network, Pielinen is easy to reach. The "Road 73" leads here from the southern part of the lake towards the east. The towns of Lieksa and Nurmes are located right on the edge of the lake and are a popular destination for tourists and offer good shopping facilities in addition to exciting museums and sights. Along the shore there are numerous hotels, campsites and entire cabins that you can rent for a relaxing stay. Whether summer or winter, ice fishing or hiking, Lake Pielinen has something for everyone.

Fun Fact

The asteroid "1536 Pielinen" discovered on September 18, 1939 was named after the lake.

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