Discover the hidden treasures of Saimaa in Puumala

Juva,Sulkava,
Savonlinna

SAIMAA GEOPARK

NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL

WHAT IS A GEOPARK? Geopark is a limited area with scientifically and scenicallysignificant geological attractions. In addition to geology there are interesting nature
attractions and historical sites in a geopark. Geoparks work under the protection ofUNESCO. See saimaageopark.fi  Ryhälä

Other routes
18. The Puumala Archipelago Route 60km
19. Kukkeistenpolku trail 10km
20. Koskenselkä nature trail 3km
21. Elsa Heporauta trail 22km
22. Metso wellness trails
13. Liehtalanniemi nature trail 2km,see geosites

Lohijärvi

Puumala geosites
1. The Haukkovuori scarps
2. Rakokivet and the caves
3. Lietvesi scenic road
4. Pistohiekka delta formation
5. Loketononkalo overflow channel
6. Rokansaari
7. Sahanlahti boulder terrain and Tupavuori cave
8. Puumalansalmi fracture zone
9. Norppapolku
10. The rock paintings in Syrjäsalmi
11. Kukonharju canal
12. Suurisuo
13. Liehtalanniemi shoreline outcrops
and nature path
14. Tollonvuori steep rocky areaKelkkalahti

49 Keriniemi

Pirttimäki

Kaipaala
29434

Harmaala

521

Ruunasaarenselkä Suuri

Konkkeli

Kietävälänvirta

Lammassaari

Haapaselkä 46

7 32

Haapasaari
Närtejärvi

762

1920

Oritsalo

1635

10

Malosenjärvi

Riihonniemi

34 47

PUUMALA

50

Mikkeli

Riihonlahti

Suomuslahti

Koskenselkä 17

1Lieviskä

Kukkeistenselkä

Kuokkajärvi

Pistohiekanselkä

15

Ummistonvesi

8

Hurissalo

PiskolaLietniemi

Lietvesi

6

Liimattala

Kyllölä Kalliovesi

Liukkosenmäki
Summala
Vetojako
Summalansaari

OtasaloÄyrätsaloSaimaa

24

Ruokolahti,Imatra

12
Luukkola

26

24. Pothole in Lintusalo, Telkonniemi
25. Liittokivi
26. Kristuksenhauta
27. Säkkimäki
28. Kummakivi
29. Harmaala primeval forest

27
Luukkolansaari

Lapinsalmenmaa

25 Liittokivenselkä
Pohjakartta © MML 2013

Lintulahti

Niinisaari

Lintusalo

Hankavesi

Haapasaari
Kuitinselkä

22
Lintusalo

Ruokolahti

OllilaLiimattalansaariNiinivesi

38

nvirtaRiutanniemi

Ruokotaipale
Ruokovesi
Korkiasaari

22Niinisaari

Syväsaari

11

Nature sites, potholes
and erratic boulders

13Vehkovirta
Jänisvirta

Sarkanen

Kuutinvirta

28

Kurensalo

42 Heinäsensaari

Selkänenä

43

Cultural sites
in Puumala
15. SS Wenno
16. Salpa Line concrete bunker
17. The Puumala woodenchurchRock paintings
10. Syrjäsalmi, see geosites
31. Kuutinvuori
32. Kaitajärvi
33. Sourunniemi
34. Maksasaarenselkä
35. Vetotaipale
36. Vuorilampi
37. Ekelinniemi
38. Ahotaipale, Luukkola

Peukalojärvi

Katosselkä

Naistenvesi

Luukkola

Konninsalo

14Vekarsalo

Lehmäinselkä

Rokansaari

184323Kyllölänsaari

LietsalmiMuuramäki

62

45 Kotkatsaari

Enolampi

Ihalainen

Ristiina,Astuvansalmi
rock paintings

937

48 Kukonharju

44Rokansalo

438 Laihajärvi

Muikunselkä

Kiukuanniemi

Tetrinselkä

Kiviniemi

Sulkava

Viljakansaari

33

31

4 40 Iso

32

Kietävälä

Torikko

36

Ruokolahti,
ImatraSandy beaches andexcursion harbours (RS)
6. Rokansaari(RS)
40. Rokansalo(RS)
4. Pistohiekka
42. Laajahiekka   (RS)(RS)
43. Ruuhonsaari
44. Suuri Metiäinen (RS)(RS)
45. Kotkatsaari
46. Haapasaari (RS)47. Hiekkaniemi (RS)48. Kukonharju (RS)49. Kylmäsaari (RS)50. Yksköytinen (RS)See more info at the back.–>

3Alterations may be made. Not all the attractions are signposted. Hiking is at one’sown risk. Remember a hiker’s responsibilities as well as “everyman’s rights”!
Puumala tourist information +358 50 562 0706
Puumala marina information +358 400 929 365

Puumala geosites

Source: Saimaa Geopark

1. THE HAUKKOVUORI SCARPS rise 81m
above Saimaa. The area is a model example of a “watercourse valley” causedby a fault in the bedrock, deepened andcleaned of fragmented rock material by
the continental ice sheet. The bedrock isa mix of garnet-cordierite-mica gneiss andgranite dykes, typical of the area (hereafter GKK).
2. RAKOKIVET AND THE CAVES wereformed when big granite boulders split
and cracked into smaller pieces. The boulders are porphyritic and gneissic granite,
and were glacially transported to theircurrent place around 11,500 years ago.
3. LIETVESI SCENIC ROAD Lietvesi is typically Saimaa north of the Salpausselkäs:
the labyrinthine watercourse is intersected by stretches of eskers, remnants of theice age. The main rock type is GKK withveins of granite. There is also an ancient,steep-sloped hill fort nearby which features remnants of rocky embankments.
4. PISTOHIEKKA is a 150km long delta
formation that accumulated along afragmented stretch of esker. The area
emerged from beneath the continental
ice sheet during the time when the local
ice lake stage in the Lietvesi area changed
into the Yoldia Sea stage around 11,400years ago. As the water levels fell, thePistohiekka and Pistohiekankangas delta
formation was washed away and levelled.
Pistohiekka forms a shore feature site withan eroded bank measuring around 700m
long and 3-4m tall. It also features ancientshorelines (at a Greater Saimaa stage
height of 87msl) and rocky outcrops.

visitpuumala.fi | saimaageopark.fi

5. LOKETONONKALO overflow channel isa channel running northwest-southeast
eroded by the meltwater of the continental ice sheet, in the fragmented bedrock’s zones of weakness. The channel isbordered by small rocky scarps; a scarp onthe southwest side also has a ledge, which,along with the gorge, has acted as a hiding
spot place for locals during the war years.
6. ROKANSAARI is an esker island withmany different formations. The area isdominated by kettle ponds and various
shore features, such as beach banks andridges formed during Saimaa’s variousstages. Rokansaari is part of a 150km
long fragmented stretch of esker which
begins in Pieksämäki and ends at the tipof Kyläniemi near Niittylahti-Härkkimyksenhiekka. The Rokansaari area emerged
from beneath the continental ice sheet
11,500-11,400 years ago, when the area
was lapped by the waters of the southern Saimaa ice lakes. Traces of humanhistory left on the island include a boarding house (1940s) trenches dug into thesandy ground (approx. 1914) and a StoneAge dwelling site. Rokansaari is a popular
hiking destination, see www.saimaanvirkistysalueyhdistys.fi7.

SAHANLAHTI BOULDER TERRAIN ANDTUPAVUORI CAVE. Sahanlahti is an oldsawmill; its yard area used to be intersectedby the main thoroughfare from Puumala.
There are lots of individual and groups ofjumbled boulders in the yard – and boulder
caves have also formed between the piles.
Throughout history the caves have acted
as playgrounds for the village children.
Nowadays Sahanlahti is home to a wide
range of accommodation, tourist andharbour services www.sahanlahtiresort.fi
TUPAVUORI is a large boulder and crevice

1533

cave in granite-biotite-hornblende gneiss
bedrock, whose hall-like interior can beaccessed through a crack. The cave wasformed when horizontal and verticalcrevices deepened as the continental
ice plucked boulders from the bedrock.
The cave is dark in places, so it is highly
recommended that visitors bring a torch.
The cave is also said to have been ahideout during the war.

what boulder-strewn terrain, and there
are boulder caves in the area.

8. PUUMALANSALMI FRACTURE ZONE
One of Saimaa’s main water traffic routes
runs through Puumalansalmi and it iscrossed by Finland’s fourth longest roadbridge. The bridge is almost 800m in
length and the top of the bridge deck is31m above the surface of Saimaa. Thereis also a scenic lift at the bridge, and thecafé Saimaan Loiste. Saimaa’s labyrinthinefeatures are clearly visible from the bridge.
This was caused by bedrock fault zones,
where the bedrock is more fragmented
than the surrounding bedrock.
9. NORPPAPOLKU forms a network of paths
through heathy esker terrain, lush wetlands and rocky lookout points. The area
emerged from beneath the continental
ice sheet during Saimaa’s ice lake stage
around 11,500 years ago. The types ofrock found are typical to the area; mica
gneiss and granite pegmatite. Kettles andancient shore terraces add a little extra tothe landscape. The Greater Saimaa stage
shorelines along the path are a little over84msl. The path is marked and there areswimming and campfire spots along theway.
10. THE ROCK PAINTINGS IN SYRJÄSALMI
date back to the Greater Saimaa phaseand subsequent phases 6,000-3,600 years
ago. The paintings depict people and elk,
amongst other things. The site is in some-

11. KUKONHARJU CANAL is 800m long andit was partially quarried from mica gneissrock and partially formed with embankments. The canal aptly illustrates the needfor canals in the Saimaa area: there arelots of bedrock faults in the area all running in the same direction and forming
long valleys and bays across the terrain,with isthmuses between them forcing
boaters to take very long routes. The canal
was of great significance to water traffic
in the 18th century in particular, when
the waterways were primarily transportroutes. Kukonharju is part of the so-called
Suvorov chain of channels.
12. SUURISUO is a largely natural area,
whose rocky forest islets and pools increase its landscape value. As is typical ofraised bogs, Suurisuo’s vegetation is rather barren and consists of ten types of pinebogs and a few types of poor fen. The flora
contains no endangered or rare plant species, but all species that are typical thesetypes of swamps represented. The area isabout 100ha and it used to be part of theSouthern Saimaa ice lake; there is a sandy
formation to the northeast of the swampthat is thought to be a delta.
13. LIEHTALANNIEMI SHORELINE OUTCROPS AND NATURE PATH. Liehtalanniemi is a rocky-shored peninsulawith typical mica gneiss bedrock. Glacial
grooves running from north-northwest to
south-southeast and depressions eroded
by waves are visible on the shore’s rocks.
There are also a few boulders and somesmall mounds of weathered rocks on theshore. There is a small museum estatein the traditional landscape of Liehtalanniemi and a nature trail with signposts.

5
14. TOLLONVUORI steep rocky area and its
surroundings form an area spanning almost one hundred hectares. It has been
designated valuable and its southern
scarp forms a Geopark site. The area’s
features are dominated by two diagonallyintersecting fractures, which are visible in
the terrain as narrow valleys. The Tollonvuori steppe-like rock wall is around 400m
long and 40-50m high. The wall displays
diagonal, horizontal and vertical cracking,and there are expansive rôche moutonnée areas on top of the rock. There arealso several cave-like spaces in the area
which have formed beneath slabs leaning
against the rock wall.

Cultural sites in Puumala

15. S/S WENNO was built in 1907 to transport timber for the Miettula sawmill (nowadays known as Sahanlahti). Of the large
tar steamer fleet that once operated onSaimaa, the S/S Wenno is the only one
with an iron hull that has been preserved.
16. SALPA LINE CONCRETE BUNKER in thecentre of Puumala Salpa Line (Salpalinja)
is a 1,200km long defence line that wasbuilt in 1940-1941 and 1944 to defend theeastern border of Finland. Salpa Line bunker in Puumala was an accommodation
bunker and was built in 1941.
17. THE PUUMALA WOODEN CHURCH wasinaugurated in 1832 and the most recent
renovation was completed in 2006-2007.
There are approx. 1,000 seats and it’s oneof the biggest wooden churches in Finland.

Other routes

18. THE PUUMALA ARCHIPELAGO ROUTE
is an award-winning circular route forcyclists and motorcyclists. This route isabout 60km long and it passes throughthe most beautiful scenery of Saimaa via

Emergency police / fire / rescue number 112

bridges, islands and esker terrains. The
Norppa II ferries bikers to and from theHurissalo and Lintusalo islands. Norppa
II operates from Lintusalo and Hurissalo
daily during the summer. The Lintusalo
dock is at this address: Lintusalontie 1661
A. Coordinates for the dock are 61 25,8, 2800,1. Hurissalo dock is in Kivisalo and theaddress is Hurissalontie 390. The ferry has
room for 20 passengers and the ride takes
40-60 minutes depending on the weather.
NORPPA II +358 50 308 3004,
norppa@puumala.fi visitpuumala.fi
19. KUKKEISTENPOLKU trail 10km
20. KOSKENSELKÄ NATURE TRAIL 3km
21. ELSA HEPORAUTA TRAIL 22km
22. METSO WELLNESS TRAILS in thearchipelago: okkola.fi and nestorinranta.fi
13. LIEHTALANNIEMI NATURE TRAIL 2kmNature sites, potholes
and erratic boulders
24. POTHOLE IN LINTUSALO, Telkonniemi,
guide from Miekkaniementie.
25. LIITTOKIVI is a rocky skerry in the middleof Suur-Saimaa. It also marked the border
between Sweden and Russia in the 1700s.
26. KRISTUKSENHAUTA is a crack in the rockin Karkia.
27. SÄKKIMÄKI is the highest point of thePuumala archipelago (133m). There is alean-to and fireplace at the lookout. Thereused to be a triangulation tower, too, built
by the Russians in 1912 in Säkkimäki.
28. KUMMAKIVI on the border of Puumala
and Ruokolahti is an enormous boulderthat defies gravity. Kummakivi is one of
the geosites in the Saimaa Geopark, too.
29. HARMAALA PRIMEVAL FOREST

Kuvat: Norppa Matti Vainikka; pyöräily VisitFinland Juho Kuva; Wenno, Loketto ja Pistohiekan kallio Tommi Ollikainen; kalliomaalaus Seppo Reponen. | Mainospihlaja Ky | Painomäki Oy 20193