Saimaa

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Saimaa
image_lake = Saimaan aalto.jpg
caption_lake = View from Joutseno town in western direction.
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = southeastern Finland
coords = coord|61|15|N|28|15|E|region:FI_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow = Vuoksi River, Saimaa Canal
catchment =
basin_countries = Finland
length =
width =
area = convert|4400|km2|acre|0|abbr=on total
(convert|1377|km2|acre|0|abbr=on largest basin)
depth = convert|17|m|ft|abbr=on
max-depth = convert|82|m|ft|abbr=on
volume = convert|36|km3|cumi|abbr=on
residence_time =
shore = convert|13700|km|mi|abbr=on
elevation = convert|76|m|ft|abbr=on
islands = 3507
cities = Lappeenranta, Imatra, Savonlinna, Mikkeli

Saimaa (IPA: IPA| [sɑ͡imɑː] ), or "Saimen" in Swedish, is a lake in southeastern Finland. At approximately 4,400 km² square km, it is the largest lake in Finland, and the fourth largest in Europe. It was formed by glacial melting at the end of the Ice Age. Major towns on the lakeshore include Lappeenranta, Imatra, Savonlinna, Mikkeli, Varkaus, and Joensuu. The Vuoksi River flows from Saimaa to Lake Ladoga. Most of the lake is spotted with islands, and narrow canals divide the lake in many parts, each having their own names (major basins include Orivesi, Puruvesi, Haukivesi, Yövesi, Pihlajavesi, and Pyhäselkä).

The Saimaa Canal from Lappeenranta to Vyborg binds Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland. Other canals bind Saimaa to smaller lakes in Eastern Finland and form a network of waterways. These waterways are mainly used to transport wood, minerals, metals, pulp and other cargo, but also tourists use the waterways.

One of the three fresh water seals, the Saimaa Ringed Seal, lives only at Saimaa.

[
left|thumb|200px|Saimaa_highlighted_on_a_satellite_photo,_Gulf_of_Finland_on_the_bottom,_Lake Ladoga on the right.]

ee also

*Asbestos-Ceramic

External links

* [http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?node=18480&lan=fi www.ymparisto.fi - Saimaa, nimet ja rajaukset] fi icon
* [http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=25710&LAN=ENG Saimaa - Finland´s largest lake]
*http://www.gosaimaa.fi/en/ goSaimaa.fi - Information about Lakeland Finland