PIELINEN, LAKE

Finnish Pielisjrvi, lake located in Pohjois-Karjalan lni (province), eastern Finland, near the border with Russia. The lake is approximately 60 miles (100 km) long between the town of Nurmes and the village of Uimaharju and ranges from 1 to 25 miles (1.5 to 40 km) in width. Its area is 335 square miles (868 square km). Lake Pielinen has many islands and is drained southward into the large Saimaa lake system by the Pielis River. It is surrounded by dense forests, particularly on its scenic and rugged western shore, which is capped by Koli hill; the latter rises to a height of 1,138 feet (347 m) and is the centre of an important winter-sports area. There is no passenger ship service on the lake. Apart from Nurmes, the town of Lieksa on the eastern shore and the village of Juuka on the western shore are the only major settlements on the lake.