# Leppävirta

Leppävirta is a municipality in North Savonia, Finland.

## Understand

A fifth of the municipality's area consists of lakes, with many islands. Much of the land area is on Soisalo (1,638 km²), by some definitions Europe's biggest lake island. Soisalo is surrounded by the lakes Kallavesi, Suvasvesi, Kermajärvi, Ruokovesi, Haukivesi och Unnukka (with 6 m height difference between Kallavesi in the north and Haukivesi in the south).
Of Leppävirta's 10,000 inhabitants about half live in the municipal centre, and 700–1,000 each in Sorsakoski to the south-west, Oravikoski to the north-west and by the border to Varkaus in the south. Although population density is only 8/km², industry is more important than agriculture or forestry. Hackman (now part of Fiskars) has long been a big employer in Sorsakoski.

## Get in

Leppävirta is 56 km south of Kuopio and 24 km north of Varkaus on highway 5, the Finnish eastern main north-south highway (from Heinola via Mikkeli, Varkaus, Kuopio, Kajaani and Kuusamo to Sodankylä).

### By train

Nearest railway stations are Varkaus and Suonenjoki. Timetables are available from the VR website.

### By bus

Buses between Helsinki and Kuopio stop at Leppävirta. For timetables, see Matkahuolto.

### By car

Highway 5 is the main option. From Pieksämäki (46 km) you can come by 453 and then 533. From Suonenjoki (32 km), take highway 9, then road 531. From Heinävesi (54 km) take road 476 (Varkaudentie), drive 2 km on highway 23 towards Joensuu, then road 534.

### By boat

The 4-m fairway from the Saimaa Canal to Kuopio and Siilinjärvi goes through Leppävirta by the canal Konnuksen kanava.

## Get around
### By bus

Service line is available. Part of the route is fixed, but the rest of it follows the dial-a-ride principle.

### By taxi

* Smartphone apps: Valopilkku, 02 Taksi, Taksi EHT

## Do

* Boating and kayaking. All the channels and islands you could hope for.
* 62.488427.77741 Vesileppis, Vokkolantie 1, ☏ +358 29-170-0170, myynti@vesileppis.fi. Leisure centre with the Kymppiareena built into the rock below the hotel, and plenty to do from bowling and sporting activities to various events. The spa includes a 25-meter fitness pool, cold water pool, jacuzzi and massage pool. For children, there is a snow play area, a children’s pool, a 32-meter water slide and a climbing track. In addition to the normal saunas, there is a steam bath. (updated Jun 2022)
* 62.505728.01142 Orinoro, Mustinmäentie 83 (drive 14 km along road Heinävedentie, road 534, then turn left along Mustimäentie for 650 m; a nature path leads past the sports court to the Orinoro gorge 3.5 km away (there is a fork, choose either way); if you want a shorter walk, you can drive a bit farther along Mustimäentie, turn to Hanhisentie and leave just 2×1 km for walking), ☏ +358 44-790-6033, matkailuneuvonta@leppavirta.fi. A narrow gorge, called one of the Seven Wonders in the Savo Region. The longer circle trail (7 km) starts from Mustinmäki-talo (community centre with sports ground and beach), the shorter one (3 km) from Hanhisentie 2.3 km farther north-east. The gorge is 200 m long and 20 m high. A few ponds along the route, one with lean-to shelter and campfire place (not to be used during wildfire warnings). The trail is quite rough in places, duckboards through the gorge; rubber/hiking boots may be needed at wet times. Free.