Lake, southeastern Finland.
Located northeast of Helsinki , Lake Saimaa has an area of 443 sq mi (1,147 sq km) and is the primary lake in the Great Saimaa lake system, the largest in Finland. About 120 lakes and numerous rivers and streams in the system drain most of southeastern Finland through Lake Saimaa, the Vuoksi River, and the Saimaa Canal to the Gulf of Finland. The lake system provides essential transportation links and hydroelectric power among the major towns of the region, and its scenic forests attract many tourists.