Which canal connects Lake Saimaa in Finland to the Gulf of Finland?

The canal that connects Lake Saimaa in Finland to the Gulf of Finland is the Saimaa Canal.

The Saimaa Canal begins near Lauritsala in Lappeenranta, southeastern Finland, and reaches the Gulf of Finland near Vyborg. Because the route crosses the Finnish–Russian border, part of the canal lies on land leased by Finland from Russia. It connects Finland’s large inland lake system with the Baltic Sea’s Gulf of Finland, giving cargo and passenger vessels access to international waters.

The original canal was built between 1845 and 1856. A major rebuilding and widening project took place from 1963 to 1968, creating the modern route. The canal is about 42.9 kilometres long and contains eight locks, which together lift vessels approximately 75.7 metres from the gulf to Lake Saimaa.

Lake Saimaa is Finland’s largest lake and links to an extensive network of navigable waterways across Finnish Lakeland. The canal’s vessels must meet “Saimax” limits, including a maximum length of 82.5 metres and draft of 4.35 metres. Winter ice normally closes the waterway.

The Saimaa Canal should not be confused with Finland’s separate inland canals or Sweden’s Göta Canal, which has no connection to Lake Saimaa.