Facts about the Saimaa Canal

Construction of the canal began in the early 19th century and it was inaugurated in 1856. In true Karelian fashion, the celebrations were so intense that the Vyborg Castle's tower caught fire. The canal was widened and deepened in the early 20th century when it proved to be too small for larger ships. The present canal is about 43km long, half of it in Finnish and the other half in Russian territory. The difference in water levels between Lake Saimaa and the Gulf of Finland is 76 metres, and there are 8 locks. Each lock chamber is 85 m long and 13.2 wide, the locks' heights vary from 5.5 to 12.7 metres.

The Saimaa Canal celebrated its 150 jubileum 2006!