Saimaa Canal and Canal Museum

The Saimaa Canal, built through the first Salpausselkä margin, is a historically significant canal route that connects the Saimaa waterway via Vyborg to the Gulf of Finland. 

The Saimaa Canal Museum is located in the Mälkiä-Mustola area, where canal structures and buildings from different periods can be seen. The exhibition on the history of the Saimaa Canal is housed in the stately former office building of the district chief of the upper canal district. The building has a historically valuable courtyard with flower beds and park paths. An exhibition of Suvorov's canals is located in the outdoor building. The Pontus Trench represents the earliest attempts at canal construction in the early 17th century. The museum has a café during the summer.

The Saimaa Canal Cultural Trail follows the course of the canal between the Mustola and Mälkiä locks. The trail is mostly easy to follow, but there are stairs along the way.

 

Exhibition

The museum presents the history of canal construction, from the Pontus Canal in the 17th century to the present-day Saimaa Canal, one of Finland's most important waterways. The exhibition includes a drawing stick, or pantograph, dating from 1844, which was an important tool for making accurate drawings before the age of modern technology. Visitors can also watch a video documenting the construction of the current Saimaa Canal between 1963 and 1968.

The canal's officialdom and official houses have their own section in the exhibition, highlighting their importance in the management and operation of the canal. The exhibition includes, among other things, the uniforms of the district chiefs of the pilotage district, which illustrate the dignity and duties of the officials in different eras. There is also a furnished office of the District Commissioner, which gives visitors an idea of the environment in which the canal was managed. The canal locks are also illustrated with miniature models to help visitors understand how they work and the technical solutions used.

Image: goSaimaa