The Saimaa Canal (the map below will help the reader figure out its location) is a shipping channel between the Vyborg Bay (Russia) and Lake Saimaa (Finland). This building was opened in 1856. The total length was 57.3 km, of which 34 km belong to Russia, and 23.3 km to Finland.
History of creation
The first attempts to connect the Gulf of Finland and Lake Saimaa were made back in 1500 and 1511 by the governor of Vyborg, Eric Turesson Bielke. The next attempt was made in 1600, at this time two excavations were made, but that was all. Already in the reign of Catherine the Great, a new plan was proposed - since the Vuoksa River connects Lake Saimaa with Lake Ladoga, it was supposed to build a canal bypassing Imatra. However, the too high costs that needed to be spent on this project, led to the refusal to bring this plan into execution. In 1826, at a meeting of the city courts of Karelia and Savolaks, it was decided to send the deputies of the peasants to St. Petersburg to the emperor so that he would connect the lake region with coastal cities. Having accepted and listened to the deputies, Nicholas I ordered to carry out the necessary research. However, no real funds were found; in this regard, they did not start laying the channel. The next time this question was raised by the governor of Vyborg August Ramsay in 1834. The course was given by Senator L.F. Hartman (Head of the financial expedition) and Prince Menshikov. In the city of Vyborg, a committee was established to draw up estimates and plan for this project. A well-known Swedish engineer was invited for initial research. As a result of his work, it turned out that the lake’s waters are 256 feet above sea level, and the cost of this structure will be three million rubles. The required amount was allocated in installments for fifteen years.
And so, in 1845, construction work began. In their process, the Swedish engineer Nils Erickson made some improvements to the channel plan. Initially, the head of this construction company was Baron Karl Rosenkampf, who received the nickname "Baron of the canals." However, in 1846 he died, and Major General Sherval was appointed in his place. All construction work was carried out at the expense of the Finnish treasury. The total value amounted to 12.4 million Finnish marks. The total length of the structure is 54.5 versts; twenty-eight granite locks were erected on this section.
We built, built and finally built ...
On August 26, 1856, the grand opening of this building took place. It was timed to the coronation of Emperor Alexander II. Finland was proud of the Saimaa Canal, which helped penetrate the desert regions of the country. The pristine beauty of nature gave him special charm. On the banks of the canal were installed commemorative signs with inscriptions in Swedish and Russian, which listed all the figures involved in the creation of this building. The entire construction was carried out in a very original and bold manner, given that the difference in the levels of the connected waters made the canal flow extremely rapid.
The opening took place four years earlier than planned. Another feature of this project was the cheapness of such a huge amount of work. The following factors played a role here: the honesty and orderliness of the Finnish managers, as well as the cheapness of the workforce, because prisoners were mainly involved here.
Channel value
The Saimaa Canal was of great importance for the development of this region. The population of Karelia and Savolaks has finally freed themselves from the exclusive economic dependence of the remote harbors of Ladoga and the Gulf of Bothnia (its northern part). The benefits of operating this facility could be even greater if project managers were able to eliminate the mercenary interference of the merchant lobby. Thus, out of fear of losing their monopoly in trade, they achieved, through intrigues and other methods, that the capacity of the gateways was limited. As a result, all vessels sailing along this route should have a hull width of not more than seven meters. Otherwise, all the goods had to be reloaded in Vyborg on ships suitable for these requirements. In this way, several merchants ensured a monopoly on exports. And, as a result, the Saimaa Canal from Vyborg lost most of its significance for the development of this region. However, later, during the reconstruction of this structure, the width of the locks was significantly increased.
Lake Saimaa in pre-revolutionary Russian travel guides
In 1870, a through passenger railway link was opened between St. Petersburg and Helsinki. This event made the most beautiful places in southern Finland accessible to society. Railway communication gave a new impetus to the development of the Karelian Isthmus and the entire surrounding area. Here, settlements began to appear, resorts and sanatoriums were being built, dirt roads were laid, linking various settlements and the railway. The Saimaa Canal played a huge role in the new development of this region. Now he performed functions not only in developing trade relations. Cruises to Finland, to Lake Saimaa and Imatra Falls became popular. So, these places began to fall into Russian literature, which describes the cultural monuments of this region. At the same time, literature appeared aimed at popularizing information about this region and promoting its sights, as well as creating a new image. Special guides describing the Saimaa Canal and its environs were issued. Most of them contained information about traffic routes, postal stations, the schedule of ships and trains, information about hotels, how and where to hire horses, resorts and sanatoriums, and much more. All of the above indicates that before the revolution, information about this object as a significant landmark of Finland was very well known. Traveling along the Saimaa Canal was common for outdoor enthusiasts.
Country life on the channel
The first cottages here began to appear even during the construction period. The sections of the canal, which were in official use, were decorated with landings, this served as an incentive for leasing land or for the construction of cottages. In addition to the beautiful nature, the popularity of recreation in this area was facilitated by the good communication provided by motor ships carrying out river cruises and passing through this waterway. And soon, wealthy residents of Vyborg and St. Petersburg built up the canal coast to Lake Nuyamaa. In Rättijärvi, there was the most luxurious summer cottage owned by Russian Foreign Minister Won Giers. It was built by one of the engineers who participated in the construction of the canal. Most of the cottages stood out for their architecture, they were decorated with towers, balconies, carvings, they were surrounded by well-groomed extensive gardens with moorings and gazebos. The names of the houses are as romantic as their outward appearance: "Runolinna", "Rauhantaranta", "Onnela", "Iloranta ... The demand for real estate in this region was so high that it became profitable to build it for rent. The Saimaa Canal of that time is known not only for cottages, but also for large estates. The most famous of them is the Lavola estate, it belonged to the Cheseff family and was located at the mouth of the object. The estates together with the dachas formed a very colorful ensemble, the atmosphere here was cheerful, international. River cruises, concerts, visits and walks revived social life, it offered vacationers a lot of impressions and earning opportunities for local residents. However, after the revolution, country life fell into decay, and with it the Saimaa Canal. Tours on it were no longer interested in Russian bohemia.
Anti-tank fence
In the plans of the General Staff of the Finnish armed forces in the thirties of the last century, this water body was considered as a possible way to organize the supply of the army. According to the developed plans, it was supposed to concentrate military operations on the Karelian Isthmus. And so, in 1939, during the period of extra urgent gatherings, it was noted that the channel could be in the combat zone. He was a serious obstacle due to the deep channel. Therefore, it was decided to use it in anti-tank defense. As a result, quite extensive areas were flooded in the area of the Kärstil Lükül and Ventel lakes. The total area of flooded sites was thirty-five square kilometers. In the period 1941-1944, the canal did not take part in hostilities.
Shipping Recovery
Due to the fact that the peace treaty established between the Soviet Union and Finland left the Gulf of Vyborg on the territory of the USSR, and the border divided the canal into two parts, it ultimately ceased to function. In the post-war period, the resumption of shipping required not only the reconstruction of structures and dilapidated equipment, but also a bilateral agreement on the use of this water body. For the first time this issue was raised in 1948, however, official interstate negotiations began only in 1954. According to the agreement, a group of Finnish engineers left for the Soviet Union to study the state of this waterway. Experts have come to the conclusion that river channels in Soviet territory are quite suitable for the restoration of shipping through them. However, work in this direction began thirteen years later, after both sides finally came to a common decision on rental issues. In 1968, the reconstruction was completed. During it, the throughput capabilities of the gateway cameras were significantly expanded.
Cruise - Saimaa Canal
Lappeenrante is a resort town in Finland. Attractiveness is given to it by the Seimas Lake, on the shore of which it is located, and the Saimaa Canal. A boat trip to these water bodies is the only thing that attracts tourists from Russia here. Incidentally, this is the only inland waterway in the Russian Federation along which vessels of foreign companies can go. Passenger ships making river cruises transport tourists from the Russian Federation and Finland. Previously, according to the agreement of 1963, passengers arriving from Finland to our country had the right of visa-free entry. However, with the accession of the republic to the Schengen agreement, this agreement was canceled. Now passengers are required to obtain visas. However, they are needed only if the ship adheres to the shores of Russia, for example, disembarks them for an excursion to Vyborg. If ferry cruises from Finland do not include calls to Russian ports, a visa is not needed. For example, the ship “Christina Brahe” passes through the territory of our country, making voyages between Lappeenranta and Helsinki, and the ship “Karelia” - between Vyborg and Lappeenranta.
Travel through the eyes of a tourist
It is hard to imagine how many more years such cruise flights will last. After all, there are not too many Finns who would like to see the sights of the Saimaa Canal, and our tourists are even fewer. And this despite the fact that a one-way ticket is about thirty euros. Travel is worth the money.
The route is forty-three kilometers long, but they have eight locks. When the ship on the Saimaa Canal overcomes the first of them - this is interesting. However, already on the third gateway, irritation begins to grow, and by the eighth you can’t wait until it is over, but still interesting. When the ship reaches the border post of Nuiyamaa, the verification of documents begins. An interesting fact is that this post is combined - automobile-water. If you find yourself on a ship in the same company with Finnish tourists, then be prepared for the fact that they often behave like most Russians: they start drinking strong drinks even before the ship leaves the pier. Many tourists specifically buy a ticket for such a cruise, explaining this by the fact that the ship has a duty-free store. If we take into account the fact that Finland has a lot of alcohol, this behavior becomes quite understandable. During the period of general drinking, the guides vainly try to attract the attention of the public to stories about the canal, locks and other attractions. And there is still something to see - the channel is very beautiful. For example, at Vyborg it is crossed by rather high bridges - railway and automobile. All navigation systems were erected on granite pillars or exhibited on islets. Part of the channel is cut down in a rock massif, the other part has sloping sandy shores with boulders. A dense forest grows along the canal, which in combination with rocks forms a very beautiful landscape. The Russian part is completely unoccupied, nearby Vyborg there are still lonely houses, and then there is pristine nature. The only lively place is in the border area, where the highway runs to Lappeenranta. The picture is quite the opposite in the Finnish part: here, settlements are found right behind the checkpoint. In the Lappeenranta region, not reaching the last gateway, the main port on this waterway is located - Saimaa terminal. Here loading / unloading of cargo ships is carried out. Cargo comes mainly from the Russian side - up to two million tons per year.
Saimaa Lake
When the ship overcomes the last gateway, it enters Saimaa Lake. The first thing you can see is a very large pulp and paper mill. The guide proudly talks about the fact that more than two and a half thousand people work here. This “miracle” of civilization spoils the whole impression of the trip, but it also prevents the city of Lappeenranta from gaining full tourist status. After all, even if modern treatment facilities are installed on it, it still dumps tons of waste into the lake, which makes it unsuitable for swimming within a radius of several tens of kilometers. And what is most interesting, in the tourist booklets nothing is said about the presence of the plant here. However, this is not all: in front of the plant there is a confectionery factory, which also dumps waste into the lake, because it is not for nothing that it is completely covered with grass in the area of this enterprise. And here, strangely enough, the main tourist complex - "Khukhtiniemi" - and the summer hotel "Karelia Park" are located. At the "fence" with the confectionery factory is another complex - "Saimaa". True, he looked kind of dull, abandoned, like that of the hotels of the Soviet era that could hardly be kept afloat in small towns. There is also a beach here, however, in order to get to the water, you will have to overcome grass thickets or try to pass through special bridges, which, by the way, are broken in their middle part, but someone helpfully laid a board through the break. Here is such a resort!
Lappeenrante
The main attraction of Lappeenranta is the Memorial Cemetery, which is located in the city center. Here you can see the graves of fallen soldiers in the years 1939-1940 and 1941-1944. And what is very curious, all burials are individual, there are no fraternal ones. The cemetery adjoins a monument to soldiers called up from the territory of the Karelian Isthmus (today it is the territory of the Russian Federation). It consists of two parts - sculptures and plates with the names of settlements and the names of soldiers, among other things, among them there are Russians. Especially a lot of them are among the natives of Teriyok (Zelenogorsk). Actually, there are no more attractions here. The city has a modern look, very well maintained and constantly being reconstructed. There is especially nothing to do there. At night, Lappeenrante falls asleep, all the shops close, you can only find kiosks selling hamburgers and other similar foods. Here, even the station building is closed until seven in the morning. Wandering through the empty night streets, it becomes clear why the Finns are so "coming off" in our country.
Imatra
This city is completely different from Lappeenranta, its history is much shorter. It was founded in 1948 and is so close to the border with Russia that domestic cellular networks are caught here. Imatra is located at the source of the Vuoksa River. The main enterprises of this city are a metallurgical plant and a hydroelectric power station. However, unlike Lappeenranta, there are no industrial facilities on the shore of the lake. There are two peculiar monuments here - the first is dedicated to the turbine, and the second to the transmission line support. The main tourist attraction is the Imatrakoski artificial pond. Before the construction of the hydroelectric power station, it was natural; in pre-revolutionary times, Russian bohemians loved to come here and enjoy the waterfall. Now here the water starts according to the schedule, this descent is the main "tourist attraction" of Imatra. The second attraction is Crown Park, which is located on an island that separates the old Vuoksa riverbed and the reservoir. The park was founded by decree of Emperor Nicholas I, who ordered that the pond and its surroundings remain unchanged. The city of Imatra is much more attractive for tourists than Lappeenrante, there are quite modern hotels, places for recreation, and fishing lovers will have a wonderful opportunity to spend an unforgettable time on the shores of Lake Saimaa.
Saimaa channel: fishing
Fishing on the lake is excellent all year round. The main fish species are pike, perch, lake salmon, and trout. Locals are not fond of fishing, despite the fact that the roach practically jumps ashore here, for some reason the Finns do not use it for food. Mostly tourists from Russia catch it. In late spring, trolling is best served by salmon and trout. Pike is caught all year round. In addition, there is a lot of burbot here, it is often fished on spinners and balance. Due to the large size of the pond, determining where the fish hid is not so simple. However, a skilled fisherman will always return from Saimaa with a good catch. Nature here is clean and unhurried, promotes peace, and is conducive to reflection and contemplation. A wonderful vacation will be guaranteed!