Päihäniemi shore formations

Päihäniemi is part of the fragmented stretch of ice-marginal formation which formed between the First and Second Salpausselkäs. The highest shoreline in the area was formed during the Baltic ice lake period (height approx. 105msl). Below this are shorelines relating to the Saimaa ice lake stage, and underneath these a clear beach ridge from the Greater Saimaa period is visible at the northern edge of the Satamahiekka sandy beach. This 800m long ancient beach ridge rises 1-2m above its surroundings and is at an elevation of approx. 82msl. Several smaller beach ridges and shore walls can be seen between the beach ridge and the existing shoreline. These relate to the stages after the Greater Saimaa stage, during which time the water level sank towards its current level. There are also Second World War Salpa Line excavations in the area.

Näe ja koe GEOKOHTEET Päihäniemi shore formations

Experience the long ancient beach ridge

The ice-marginal formations are glaciofluvial deltas which accumulated at the edge of the continental ice sheet and consist of sand and gravel deposited by the ice sheet’s meltwater. Marginal formations may also contain mixed quaternary deposits, or moraine, moved and piled up by the ice sheet. Adjacent glaciofluvial deltas form stretches of ice-marginal formations. Päihäniemi and Kattelussaari glaciofluvial deltas with their curved edges were formed around 12,000 years ago, when the rivers that flowed in tunnel channels at the bottom of the ice sheet discharged at the ice edge and the sand and gravel carried by the rivers was deposited in fan-shaped deltas at the mouths of the rivers. There is a Saimaa Geopark sign at Päihäniemi parking area.

Image: Veera Hakkarainen

Saimaa geopark signpost

Geological vocabulary

Coordinates

Geographic coordinates

61.171627236, 28.366156661

GPS-devices

x=573487,000 y=6782671,800