Northern Savo The nature and the map

Nature - forests  Northern Savo is located in the northern boreal forest belt.  Approximately 83% of its area is covered by forest.  A large proportion of the forest is commercial forest owned by private inviduals, municipalities and forestry companies.  The forests also provide plenty of berries and mushrooms that everyone can utilise.

Nature - lakes  Approximately 17% of the area of Northern Savo consists of water, there are about lakes bigger than one hectare, and the total length of the shorelines is 16,000 km.  Northern Savo belongs to the Finnish Lakeland, the largest lake area in Europe.  The pure Nature of the Finnish Lake District attracts tourists.

 The waterways in Northern Savo are headland waters: usually shallow, small in size, with low nutrient levels and plenty of fish.  Water quality is good in 75% of the region*s lakes.  The water in most lakes and rivers in Northern Savo is completely drinkable, but just in case, it is good to boil it before drinking.  The waters are suitable for swimming too. –There are few cyanobacteria, and there are no dangerous animals or insects in the water. –The leech, i.e. the medicinal leech, no longer exists in Finland, and the horse leech will only try to bite if you put your finger in its mouth!

Summer and winter in Northern Savo  Summer –Summers are usually pleasantly warm and it’s hardly ever too hot. –The water in the lakes usually reaches about 20°C in June. –Sub-zero temperatures are common at least at night from September to May.  Winter –Temperatures of 30 degrees Centigrade below zero are not unknown in January-February.

The map