Saimaa canal cruises 30.6.-3.8.2025


HISTORY OF THE SAIMAA CANAL

A waterway connection from the Lake Saimaa to the Gulf of Finland and further to Europe can be considered as an ancient idea. The first attempts to build the Saimaa Canal were made in the 1500s and early 1600s. The first Saimaa Canal, with 28 lock chambers, was completed in 1856.

The Saimaa Canal was rebuilt in the 1920s, as the canal was proving to be too small. From this so-called. second construction of the canal, 40% was completed before the Second World War.

After the war, about half of the canal remained in Soviet territory and the waterway from Saimaa to the sea was cut off for more than 20 years. In 1963, construction of the present canal began, made possible by an agreement between Finland and the Soviet Union, whereby the Soviet Union leased the Soviet side of the Saimaa Canal to Finland for 50 years. Construction of the new canal, which has eight locks, was completed in 1968.

The Saimaa Canal is open for boating throughout the boating season, 24 hours a day. The channel is a whole, with all eight locks having the same dimensions and technology. The maximum ship size is 82 x 12.2 x 4.35 meters and the underpass height is 24.5 meters.

Two-hour canal cruises almost daily.

Locks of the Saimaa Canal

1. BRUSNICHNOYE Lock

The Brusnichnoye lock is the lowest lock coming from the sea. It has 10.0 meters height of fall.

2. ISKROVKA Lock
The height of the fall of Iskrovka Lock is 11.4 meters.

3. CVETOTCHNOE Lock
The height of the fall of Cvetotchnoe lock is 5.5 meters.

4. ILISTOE Lock
The height of the fall of Ilistoe Lock is 10.2 meters.

5. PELLI Lock
The height of the fall of the Pelli lock is 11.7 meters.

5b. THE FLAP BRIDGE AT KANSOLA

6. SOSKUAN Lock
The height of the fall of Soskuan lock is 8.3 metres.

7. MUSTOLA Lock
The height of the fall of Mustola lock is 7.3 meters.

8. MÄLKIÄ Lock
The Mälkiä lock absorbs the fluctuations in the water level of Lake Saimaa and has a fall height of about 13 meters. Attractions: on the east side of the lock, the old Mälkiä lock group from 1856 and the canal museum.

The next canal cruises: