PAIJANNE, LAKE

lake located in parts of the lnit (provinces) of Keski-Suomi, Hme, and Mikkeli, south-central Finland. The lake has an area of 407 square miles (1,054 square km) and a maximum depth of 305 feet (93 m). It is about 85 miles (135 km) long and between 2 and 18 miles (3 and 29 km) wide. The lake is broken by thousands of islands. Jyvskyl, at the northern tip of the lake, and Heinola, on a southeastern branch of the lake, are the principal towns. They are connected by ship service with the major city of Lahti to the south of Pijnne via the Vesijrven canal and lake. The Pijnne lake system is drained southward to the Gulf of Finland by the Kymi River. The irregular shoreline around Pijnne is heavily forested and supports important timber operations that use the lake as a means of transport. Numerous villages dot the shore of the lake, and many private villas are located on the quiet bays off its southern end.