Island cruise Kutila
Island cruise Kutila
Fascinating 2-hour trip takes us along the old steamer route in front of the Kopinsalmi and Umialampi, to the southern starting point of the Kutila Canal. Immediately after the completion of the Saimaa Canal (1856), plans for a canal linking the Pien-Saimaa (Little Saimaa) and the Suur-Saimaa (Great Saimaa) began to emerge. The approximately 400-meter-long canal would shorten the waterway between Lappeenranta and Puumala by more than 10 kilometers and improve Lake Pien-Saimaa’s water quality. The canal is estimated to cost around 15 million and the canal project is currently in a strong tailwind awaiting final decisions. Pending final financing and construction decisions, the project could start as early as 2022.
Most of the island cruise is spent in the waters of Taipalsaari, in the middle of the islands. Half of the municipality’s area is blue Saimaa and the other half consists mainly of 700 islands. The coastline of the municipality is 1008 kilometers. The cruise follows the old steamship route, characterized by rocky beaches with cottages and villas. The route connects