Five Under-the-Radar Lakes in Finland
Grab a canoe and head for one of these lesser-known watery wonders in Finland.
22 September, 2021
Pine-scented
air, rugged hills and forest-strewn lakesides are
just some of the ingredients that make up Finland’s wild landscape.
A country known for its natural beauty and outdoorsy inhabitants,
Finland is not short of adventurers looking for a slice of the
great outdoors. With this in mind, we’ve compiled a list of five
under-the-radar Finnish lakes for a nature-fuelled escape that
dodges the crowds.
Lake Saimaa
Best for: watersports
Despite being the country’s largest lake, Lake Saimaa is still
relatively unknown to people outside Scandinavia. A haven for
paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking thanks to its string of quiet
waterways, the lake is pockmarked with over 14,000 miniature
islands where you can anchor up and explore. Tired from a day of
water-fuelled activities? Head to Hotel & Spa Resort
Järvisydän’s Lake Spa for a traditional smoke sauna, then follow
this with a quick cooling plunge into the lake.
Lake Goldajarviwith
Best for: an international dip
Head for a refreshing swim in these international waters to skip
customs and straddle the borders of Finland, Sweden and Norway all
in one go. Marked by a stone, the Three-Country Cairn, the tripoint
can be reached from a wooden platform that stretches into the lake,
allowing visitors to walk around the boundary. Plus, with warm
currents that pour into the lake from the west, a swim here is
surprisingly warm compared to in neighbouring lakes.
Myllyjärvi
Best for: secret swimming
This forest-lined lake is secreted away at the foot of a steep
hill, sheltering it from the view of passers-by and making it
almost impossible to come across by chance. Surrounded by a nature
reserve, the mirror-still waters here are pure, peaceful and deeply
inviting (not least because they’re usually totally empty). You’ll
even find beach huts for a spot of shade at the south end of the
lake, so you can easily spend the day here – just remember to pack
a picnic.
Nuuksion Pitkäjärvi
Best for: back-to-nature breaks from the city
An emerald lake within easy reach of Helsinki, this lily-coated
freshwater pool offers a typically Finnish landscape of wild woods,
craggy rocks and moss-carpeted shores. Surrounded by nature trails
and hiking routes suited to a variety of abilities, this is the
spot where urbanites flock for a quick back-to-nature escape. For
those in search of a deeper immersion in nature, the nearby Finnish
Nature Centre Haltia offers a closer look at the country’s natural
wonders from its futuristic complex of wooden exhibition
spaces.
Laurlampi
Best for: hiking with a view
Just a few hours’ northeast of the Finnish capital lies Repovesi
National Park, a former site for intensive commercial forestry that
was transformed into a pristine national park in 2003. Home to the
crystal-blue waters of Laurlampi, the nature reserve is brimming
with pine forests and hikeable hills, and it’s usually far less
busy than some of its larger counterparts.
