Saimaa’s water levels drop, exposing wider sandy beaches

Water levels in Lake Saimaa are currently about 35 centimetres below average, exposing significantly larger sandy beaches, Yle reports.

In Savonlinna’s Puruvesi, the sandy beach on Eevansaari island has roughly doubled in size. Antti Kaipainen, a boater with 40 years of experience, noted that trees now stand 30–40 metres from the water’s edge, forcing him to moor his boat to a rock instead of the shore.

“Normally, you could drive right up to the beach,” Kaipainen said. He added that larger boats may struggle to reach some areas, as even smaller vessels face difficulties.

While low water complicates boating, Kaipainen sees an upside: clearer waters and expanded beaches offer unique experiences. He recalled last walking to the tip of Eevansaari’s peninsula around the turn of the millennium and expects the sandbar may soon be accessible on foot again.

Tapio Tuukkanen, a water management expert at the Southeast Finland Centre for Economic Development, confirmed the lake is 35 cm below average. Though heavy May rains and reduced water releases have raised the lowest forecasts, levels are still projected to remain about 40 cm below average in July and August—close to Tuukkanen’s earlier estimate of a 50 cm shortfall for the summer.

Kaipainen, founder of the Veneilysaimaa website, urged boaters—especially those with larger vessels—to exercise caution. Many docking spots are now tricky, and he advised sharing information about hazards like shallow areas or poor dock conditions to prevent accidents.