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Saimaa Canal

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Transportation canal in Finland

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Saimaa Canal
Saimaa Canal

Specifications
Length	42.9 km (27 mi)
Maximumboat length	82.5 m (271 ft)
Maximumboat beam	12.6 m (41 ft)
Maximumboat draft	4.35 m (14.3 ft)
Maximumboat air draft	24.5 m (80 ft)
Locks	8
History
Construction began	1845
Date completed	1856
Geography
Start point	lakeSaimaa,Finland
End point	Gulf of Finland nearVyborg, Russia

TheSaimaa Canal (Finnish:Saimaan kanava;Swedish:Saima kanal;Russian:Сайменский канал) is atransportation canal that connects lakeSaimaa with theGulf of Finland nearVyborg, Russia. The canal was built from 1845 to 1856 and opened on 7 September 1856 (Old Style: 26 August 1856).It was overhauled and widened in 1963–1968.

A system ofinland waterways and canals in the 120 interconnected lakes of the south-central and south-east part of Finland (Finnish Lakeland) are reached through the canal. The network of deep channels in Lake Saimaa with at least a draught of 4.2 m (14 ft) covers 814 km (506 mi). The deep channels extend all the way toKuopio in Central Finland. The canal is closed in the winter.^[1]

Topography

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The canal begins nearLauritsala,Lappeenranta, Finland, at coordinates (61°04′43″N028°16′24″E / 61.07861°N 28.27333°E /61.07861; 28.27333) and ends inVyborg, Russia, at coordinates (60°48′38″N028°44′13″E / 60.81056°N 28.73694°E /60.81056; 28.73694), connecting LakeSaimaa and theVyborg Bay. On the way, it connectsLake Nuijamaa, on the Finnish–Russian border at coordinates (60°57′6″N28°34′33″E / 60.95167°N 28.57583°E /60.95167; 28.57583), and three smaller lakes in Russia.

Dimensions

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Length: 42.9 km (26.7 mi)
- Finnish part: 23.3 km (14.5 mi)
- Russian part: 19.6 km (12.2 mi)
Width: from 34 to 55 m (112 to 180 ft)
Total lift from theGulf of Finland to LakeSaimaa: 75.7 m (248 ft)
The "Saimax" specification, in analogy toPanamax, specifies the maximum size and required equipment. The maximum dimensions allowed for a ship transiting the canal are:
- Length: 82.5 m (271 ft)
- Beam (width): 12.6 m (41 ft)
- Draft: 4.35 m (14.3 ft)
- Height of mast: 24.5 m (80 ft)
- Other requirements include for example that trading vessels must have two VHF radios and anautomatic identification system (AIS).
217 boundary pillars between Canal Rented Zone and main territory of Russia.

Locks

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There are a total of eight locks on the canal, raising the water level by some 250 ft (76 m): the upper three locks in the Finnish part of the canal, and the lower five locks situated on the Russian side of the border:

Locks on the Saimaa Canal^[2]
No.	Name	Old name	Meters	Feet	Coordinate	Country
1	Brusnichnoye	Juustila	10.0	33	60°48′38″N28°44′14″E / 60.810667°N 28.737316°E /60.810667; 28.737316	Russia
2	Iskrovka	Särkijärvi	11.4	37	60°49′56″N28°44′12″E / 60.832155°N 28.73661°E /60.832155; 28.73661	Russia
3	Tsvetochnoye	Rättijärvi	5.5	18	60°52′55″N28°39′03″E / 60.881817°N 28.650756°E /60.881817; 28.650756	Russia
4	Ilistoye	Lietjärvi	10.2	33	60°53′36″N28°37′22″E / 60.893306°N 28.622904°E /60.893306; 28.622904	Russia
5	Pälli		11.7	38	60°54′26″N28°36′55″E / 60.907227°N 28.615179°E /60.907227; 28.615179	Russia
6	Soskua		8.3	27	61°02′23″N028°24′02″E / 61.03972°N 28.40056°E /61.03972; 28.40056	Finland
7	Mustola		7.3	24	61°03′45″N028°18′59″E / 61.06250°N 28.31639°E /61.06250; 28.31639	Finland
8	Mälkiä		12.4	41	61°04′15″N028°18′14″E / 61.07083°N 28.30389°E /61.07083; 28.30389	Finland

Mälkiä Lock has the highest lift (12.4 m, 41 ft), Tsvetochnoye Lock has the lowest (5.5 m, 18 ft).

Bridges

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The canal crosses

12 motor vehicles bridges:
- 6 of them in Finland – 3 movable and 3 immovable
- the other 6 in Russia – 4 movable and 2 immovable
2 railroad bridges (one on the each side of the border), both of them are immovable.

History

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Saimaa Canal in 1903, photo byProkudin-Gorskii

The canal, inaugurated in 1856, was built between the cities ofLappeenranta andViipuri (now part of Russia), both of them then in the autonomousGrand Duchy of Finland in theRussian Empire.

In theMoscow Peace Treaty of 1940, Finland ceded theKarelian Isthmus and Vyborg to theSoviet Union; control of the canal was divided and traffic ended.

Finland obtained a 50-yearlease on the Soviet part of the canal andMaly Vysotsky Island (Ravansaari) in 1963. Finland constructed a deeper 42.9 kilometres (26.7 mi) canal, which opened in 1968. The annual rent during this lease increased only once.

In 2010, Finland obtained a second 50-year lease from Russia, starting in 2013.^[3] Maly Vysotsky was not included in the new lease. Negotiations in 2008 had raised the annual rent from€290,000 to€1.22 million, with revisions every 10 years. The new agreement went into effect on 17 February 2012.

Regulations pertaining to maritime rules and employment of canal staff fall under Finnish jurisdiction; in all other cases Russian laws apply. Passports are required at the international boundaries, butRussian visas are not required for just passing through the canal.

The canal is as of 2024 open for traffic despite theUkraine War.^[1]