Pihlajavesi

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Pihlajavesi
Mitinhiekka, Pihlajavesi, Lake Saimaa.JPG
Mitinhiekka, Pihlajavesi
Geographical location South Savo ( Finland )
Tributaries from Haukivesi and Puruvesi
Drain to Saimaa
Islands 3,819
Location close to the shore Savonlinna , Punkaharju , Sulkava , Puumala
Data
Coordinates 61 ° 44 ′  N , 28 ° 52 ′  E Coordinates: 61 ° 44 ′  N , 28 ° 52 ′  E
Pihlajavesi (Finland)
Pihlajavesi
Altitude above sea level 75.7  m
surface 712.59 km²
volume 8.076 km³
Maximum depth 72 m
Middle deep 11.33 m

The Pihlajavesi is a lake south of the city of Savonlinna and belongs to the Saimaa lake system. With an area of ​​712.59 km², it is the sixth largest lake in Finland and extends over an area of ​​around 40 km in length and 20 km in width.

A unique island culture developed on the islands in Pihlajavesi in the past centuries after Finnish settlers had cultivated the islands. The islanders believed they were safe from attackers, and the risk of the cattle running away into the forests or being torn by predators was lower on the islands than on the mainland. However, in a campaign by Russian Cossacks under Vilim Fermor in 1743, many houses were destroyed and at least 43 settlers were killed.

In 1930 there were around 20 inhabited islands in the lake with a population of around 1,000 people. However, due to constant rural exodus, the number of islanders has fallen to barely 200 today.

The lake area, divided into a labyrinth-like pattern by thousands of islands, is not only the nesting place for numerous bird species, but also the home of the Saimaa ringed seal . Around 60 of this endangered seal species live here.

The Pihlajavesi, together with the Olavinlinna Castle, is one of the 27 official national landscapes of Finland .

See also

Web links

Commons : Pihlajavesi (Saimaa)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. a b c d JÄRVIWIKI - Pihlajavesi (Saimaa) (04.121.1.001)
  2. ^ Esko Kuusisto: Lake District in Finland. In: Matti Seppälä (ed.): The Physical Geography of Fennoscandia. Oxford University Press 2005. p. 296.
  3. Tero Sipilä: Conservation biology of Saimaa ringed seal (Phoca hispida saimensis) with reference to other European seal populations. 2003, Helsinki, Department of Ecology and Systematics Division of Population Biology, University of Helsinki