Parikkala: Tie 6 - Särkisalmi - Tie 14 Savonlinnaan
Few places in eastern Finland have a history as closely tied to the Finnish-Russian border as Parikkala. This South Karelian municipality lies in a region whose communities and routes have long been shaped by Finland’s eastern frontier. Lake Simpelejärvi is part of its extensive lake district, while the wooded terrain around Särkisalmi is crossed by National Road 6, one of the country’s principal long-distance roads. Settlement here remains distinctly rural, with homes, farms and small service centres dispersed between forest and water rather than gathered in a dense urban core. An unexpected cultural landmark is the Parikkala Sculpture Park, an outdoor environment created by self-taught artist Veijo Rönkkönen, whose concrete figures have made it a recognised stop in South Karelia. Parikkala reflects the quieter borderland character of Finnish Karelia.
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Among the towns of Mainland Finland, Parikkala stands out for the Parikkala Sculpture Park, an unconventional outdoor collection created by local artist Veijo Rönkkönen. More than 500 concrete figures, many with intensely personal expressions, are set among woodland paths and gardens, making the park one of Finland’s most distinctive self-taught art environments. The town lies in the lake-dotted landscape of South Karelia, beside Lake Simpelejärvi and close to the Russian border. Birdlife and quiet waters shape the wider surroundings, while the sculpture park gives Parikkala a cultural identity unlike that of neighbouring Finnish lake towns. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Parikkala and South Karelia.
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Lake Saimaa and the Vuoksi waterway define much of South Karelia – their shores, forests and channels have long supported forestry, boating and lakeside settlement. In southeastern Finland, the region borders Russia and centres on Lappeenranta, a university city on the lake. Its Lappeenranta Fortress preserves the old town’s military past, while the Saimaa Canal links the lake system towards the Gulf of Finland. Imatra is known for the Imatrankoski rapids, where the Vuoksi leaves Saimaa. Karelian food traditions remain part of local identity, notably filled rye pastries. Continue with other webcams from the area to see how this part of South Karelia connects regionally.
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The terrain of Finland ranges from low coastal plains along the Gulf of Bothnia to fells in Lapland, creating a country of forests, lakes and long northern distances. More than 180,000 lakes shape everyday life, while the Lakeland region is threaded with waterways and islands. Helsinki, on the Gulf of Finland, combines neoclassical landmarks around Senate Square with contemporary Finnish design. Farther north, the Sámi are Finland’s only recognised Indigenous people, and their culture remains closely connected to the Arctic region. In winter, snow and ice transform the north; in summer, long daylight extends outdoor life well into the evening. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Finland.
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