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Saimaa Geopark Region Ruokolahti
A RURAL ARCHIPELAGO
The municipality and parish of Ruokolahti were founded over 440 years ago. Ruokolahti is located in the middle of South Karelia, in the province of Southern Finland, on the shores of Lake Saimaa. The municipality covers an area of 1220 km2 (943 km2 of land and 276 km2 of water).
Ruokolahti is a rural archipelago, because in addition to Lake Saimaa, the municipality has more than 500 lakes and ponds. The magnificent nature has attracted tourists and the municipality has more than 3000 holiday homes. The municipality has a permanent population of around 5,400. The inhabitants are spread over 90 villages in 21 village councils. The central settlement is called Rasila, which also includes Salosaari. The township is bisected by Lake Hapavesi on Lake Saimaa.
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![Salpalinjan kiviesteitä metsässä.](https://saimaageopark.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Syyspohjan-salpalinjan-kiviesteet-1-512x384.jpg)
Salpa Line stone defences at Syyspohja
![Järven rantaan rakennettu Ruokolahden kirkko.](https://saimaageopark.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Ruokolahden-kirkonmaki-ja-suuri-siirrosvyohyke-1-512x341.jpg)
Ruokolahti church hill and major fault zone
![Kummakivi siirtolohkare metsän keskellä.](https://saimaageopark.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Kummakivi-siirtolohkare-1-512x218.jpg)
Kummakivi erratic boulder
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Ruokolahti local history museum
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Finn Active Travel
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ONNI Village
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Onnela’s sheep farm
![Ilmakuva Utulan maisema-alueesta.](https://saimaageopark.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Utulan-maisema-alue-1-512x383.jpg)
Utula landscape area
![Huuhanrannan pitkä hiekkaranta kesällä.](https://saimaageopark.fi/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Huuhonrannan-rantamuodostumat-1-512x384.jpg)
Huuhanranta shore formations
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Ruokolahti church
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Hotel Hirsiranta
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B&B Hiitolanjoki
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