Saimaa UNESCO GLOBAL Geopark
Löydä Saimaan kätketyt aarteet
Saimaa on itäisen Suomen aarre, joka tunnetaan kauniista maisemistaan, eläväisistä kaupungeistaan sekä idyllisistä kirkonkylistään. Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark kokoaa yhteen Saimaan upeat luontokohteet, ihastuttavat retkeilyreitit sekä historialliset kulttuurikohteet, jotka luontomatkailijan kannattaa ehdottomasti kokea vieraillessaan Saimaalla. Henkeäsalpaavien kohteiden ja ainutlaatuisten maisemien kautta Saimaa Geoparkin kertoma tarina Saimaan synnystä avautuu aivan uudella tavalla.
Sijainti
Saimaa UNESCO Global Geopark johdattaa matkailijan seikkailulle puhdasvetisen järvimaiseman syntytarinaan. Saimaa Geopark sijaitsee itäisessä Suomessa, Etelä-Karjalan ja Etelä-Savon maakunnissa. Alue koostuu yhdeksästä ainutlaatuisesta kunnasta: Imatra, Juva, Lappeenranta, Mikkeli, Puumala, Ruokolahti, Savitaipale, Sulkava ja Taipalsaari.
FIELD TRIP 8: Geosailing
Catch the wind and experience the majesty of Saimaa under full sail! Hop on a quick bus ride from Lappeenranta Harbour to Joutseno, and step aboard a sailing boat for an exhilarating voyage from Joutseno all the way to Imatra.
🛟Lappeenranta Harbor
The bustling epicenter of local lake life. Soak in the harbor views and grab a famous, hearty vety or atomi meat pie to kickstart your day of adventure.
🏝 Muukonsaari
From Joutseno Harbor we hop aboard an old sailing boat and travel to the nearby Geopark Muukonsaari. The island is a significant site in terms of cultural history and nature, and today also serves as an educational destination. A striking rocky island draped in a delicate layer of northern soil and lush greenery.
💦Satamosaari
A quintessential Saimaa retreat located along the classic shipping route between Lappeenranta and Imatra. This island invitation from the South Karelian Foundation for Recreation Areas includes a welcoming harbor, inviting campfire spots and two authentic lakeside saunas: which warms up hikers along with a lunch.
🛥️Imatra Harbor and Lammassaari
Your grand finale! Sail into a breathtaking, sheltered lagoon formed by the scenic Lammassaari island. As an official Saimaa Geopark target, Lammassaari offers an incredible 3.7 km nature trail winding through unique geological formations and rich ecosystems.
#saimaageopark #egnconference2026 #fieldtrip #europeangeoparksnetwork #sailingtrip Etelä-Karjalan virkistysaluesäätiö @europeangeoparksnetwork
EGN Conference 2026 parallel sessions 📝
We have sent an email to everyone whose abstract has been accepted as part of the parallel sessions and sent a link to the download folder, where everyone should upload their presentation in advance.
‼️ATTENTION: We would now like to receive their presentations from all parallel session holder as soon as possible! The deadline to upload presentations to the folder is Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
NOW YOU WILL ALSO FIND LINKS ON OUR WEBSITE THAT SHOW THE SCHEDULES AND PRESENTATION SPACE OF THE PARALLEL SESSIONS AT THE LAPPEENRANTA CITY HALL: www.saimaageopark.fi/en/egn2026/
#saimaageopark #egnconference2026 #europeangeoparksnetwork #ParallelSessions #abstracts
Suomen luonnon päivä 🌿💚
Vie sen kunniaksi itsesi ulos tänään, nosta malja luonnolle ja nauti mustikkaisia herkkuja.
Ota hetki itsellesi, juhli isolla joukolla tai lähtekää kaksin nukkumaan yö ulos. Jokainen tyylillään - Luontoa arvostaen!
Psst! Hyviä kohteita tälle viikonlopulle löydät Saimaan alueelta @saimaageopark nettisivuilta 👍🏾
//ENG
Finnish Nature Day 🌿💚
In honor of it, take yourself outside today, raise a glass to nature and enjoy blueberry treats.
Take a moment for yourself, celebrate with a big group or go for a night out for two. Everyone in their own style - Appreciating nature!
@suomenluonnonpaiva @europeangeoparksnetwork #suomenluonnonpäivä #finnishnatureday #arvokasluontomme #suomenluonto #EuropeanGeoparksNetwork
Lappeenranta Tänään!-tapahtumassa Saimaa Geopark ja @virkistysaluesaatio kaupungintalon edustalla 🌿☺️
Pisteellämme pääset tutkimaan luupeilla, noutamaan karttoja ja kohde-esittelyjä, saamaan tieto hankkeista ja talkoista,sekä jättämään taululle oman lempi luontopaikkasi tai maisemasi Etelä-Karjalasta!
Tule moikkaamaan pisteelle 19.
@lappeenrantafi
#saimaageopark #unescoglobalgeoparks #EuropeanGeoparksNetwork #eteläkarjala #eteläkarjalanvirkistysaluesäätiö
Aurinkoinen kesäpäivä Savon sydämessä. AARREKARTTA-hankkeen valokuvanäyttely siirtyi näytille Puumalasta-Juvalle 📷
Kiitos Hannu Janhunen ja Mervi Simoska avusta!
Näyttely kokoaa yhteen AARREKARTTA-hankkeen valokuvauskilpailussa valittujen kahdeksan harrastevalokuvaajan näkemyksiä elämästä Saimaan rannoilla. Näyttely kiertää eri Saimaa Geopark-kunnissa vuoden 2026 aikana.
Lisää näyttelystä Saimaa Geoparkin sivuilla uusimmissa artikkelijulkaisuissa.
@visitjuva @visitpuumala @maaseutufi
#aarrekarttahanke #saimaageopark #europeangeoparksnetwork #elämääsaimaanrannoilla #valokuvanäyttely
Tänään juhlimme Eino Leinon, runon ja suven päivää sekä liputamme suomalaiselle kulttuurille. 🇫🇮✍️
Jo vuosien ajan tämä päivä on ollut kaunis ylistys suomalaisuudelle, koskettavalle runoudelle ja sille ainutlaatuiselle taialle, jonka vain pohjoinen kesä voi meissä herättää. Leinon sanoin olemme oppineet sanoittamaan niin kaipuuta, rakkautta kuin luonnon ihmeitä.
#einoleino #runonjasuvenpäivä #suomalainenkulttuuri #finnishculture #poetry
FIELD TRIP 6: Geocycling trip
Learn about Finnish educational services and enjoy the beautiful nature around Lake Saimaa on this unique and easy-going cycling tour that takes you along the shoreline from the city centre to the University campus and back to the harbor.
😘Fortress and “Pusupuisto, Kissing park”
As a popular tourist destination with the museums, cafés, an orthodox church and craftsmen`s workshops. Along the fortress, you find also 1.8 km long nature and culture trail. Pusupuisto (“kissing park”) is the oldest park in Lappeenranta.
🏘️Rakuunamäki lakeside route
Built in the late 1880s, Rakuunamäki is the best-preserved barrack area in Europe, purpose-built for the cavalry. Nowadays in the area, you can find the local brewery company Tuju Taproom, Rakuunamäki event space, á la carte restaurant “Sotkunen kellari” and Hotel Rakuuna.
🚴Huhtiniemi lakeside route
Huhtiniemi is a neighbourhood in Lappeenranta that is not only accessible by a road but also an idyllic lakeside route from both the university and the city centre.
📝Sammontalo operating school unit
Sammonlahti school is located in Sammontalo in Sammonlahti. It is the longest operating basic school in Finland and has a certificate in being a school of sustainable development.
👩🎓LUT University campus
LUT university campus combines both LUT University of Technology and LAB University of Applied Sciences. The campus started its activity in 1969 when it opened in the district of Skinnarila.
🐟Skinnarila beach
On the beach we enjoyed local food cooked over a campfire, by LAB students and hop on the traditional church boat together.
🏝Naurissaari
A diverse nature site, Naurissaari is a beautiful island in a natural state, with several Salpa Line bunkers, trenches, dugouts and firing stations. A network of paths runs around the island which allows for lots of exploration.
🐻Karhusaari
Karhusaari, which means bear island, is a year-round island getaway just outside of the city of Lappeenranta. Its often referred to as an oasis in the middle of the city.
#saimaageopark #egnconference2026 #europeangeoparknetwork #fieldtrip #geocycling
Keskikesän juhlaa 🌞
#juhannus #saimaageopark #saimaalla #middsummer #ourfinland
FIELD TRIP 5: Discovering the Islands of Lake Saimaa
Embark on an unforgettable voyage across the sparkling waters of Lake Saimaa! Admire the labyrinth of breathtaking islands on this versatile lake cruise, where you’ll dive into rich local culture, marvel at fascinating ancient geology, and encounter living natural wonders.
🌱Salpausselkä
We will travel along the First Salpausselkä, crossing the Saimaa Canal and the Vuoksi river, the tributary of the Saimaa watershed. The First Salpausselkä ice marginal formation consists of glaciofluvial deposits, sand and gravel ridges, and end moraine walls kilometres in lenght.
🗾Kyläniemi
The journey to Kyläniemi passes through the valuable Utula landscape area. The landscape opens up from Toinen Salpausselka over the fields to Lake Saimaa. The arable areas were created when the glacier`s meltwater carried fine soil away from coarse soil, layering the current farmland. From the Kyläniemi pier we continue our journey by cruise ship to the Saimaa islands.
⛪️Ilkonsaaret
An island of captivating contrasts, consisting of two dramatic rocky ridges steeped in history and spirituality. Take a peaceful stroll to discover the beautifully crafted, traditional Orthodox tsasounas (wooden/stone prayer chapels) hidden amidst the tranquil nature.
🏝️Satamosaari
A true boater`s paradise situated along the scenic route between Lappeenranta and Imatra. This ridge island invites you to unwind with its inviting harbor, cozy campfire sites and authentic lakeside saunas. The island`s nature strongly reflects the traces of the Ice Age.
🚢Imatra Harbour and Lammassaari
Towards the end of the trip, we disembark from the ship at the port of Imatra, where we pass one of the great year-round outdoor recreation destinations of the Saimaa Geopark: Lammassaari.
Lammassaari tells a geological story in three time levels: the coastal cliffs are 1.9 billion years old, the island itself was stratified over 12,000 years ago, and the third time level is formed by the ancient beaches surrounding the island.
#egnconference2026 #saimaageopark #fieldtrip #europeangeoparksnetwork #islandtrip
