Puruvesi

Puruvesi is a lake in Eastern Finland. The lake is located in Kerimäki, Kesälahti and Punkaharju municipalities. Part of the Saimaa lake system, it borders on the sub-lake system of Pihlajavesi to the south. As is the case of other lakes of Saimaa, it has numerous islands and consists of numerous open lake areas, of which largest are Hummonselkä, Pajuselkä, Sammalselkä, Mustanselkä, and Ruosteselkä.[2]

Puruvesi
LocationEastern Finland
Coordinates61°50′N 029°27′E
Basin countriesFinland
Surface area420.86 km2 (162.49 sq mi)[1]
Average depth8.76 m (28.7 ft)
Max. depth61 m (200 ft)
Water volume3,655 km3 (2.963×109 acre⋅ft)
Shore length1923.97 km (574.13 mi)
Surface elevation75.7 m (248 ft)[1]
Islands720
SettlementsKerimäki, Kesälahti, Punkaharju
References[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The lake is known for its pure water and has uniquely good underwater visibility for a Finnish lake, easily extending to 6–10 metres (20–33 ft) from the surface on calm and sunny days.[2]

Recently, the Saimaa Ringed Seal, a rare freshwater seal species, has returned to Puruvesi. Sightings of this animal have occurred frequently in 2006, 2007 and 2008. At least one seal was also sighted in the winter of 2009 as having wintered and given birth in the eastern part of Puruvesi.[3]

References
  1. Puruvesi. Puruvesi in Järviwiki Web Service. Finnish Environment Institute. Retrieved 2014-03-08. (in English)
  2. Etelä-Savon ympäristökeskus: Puruvesi. Retrieved 2014-03-08. (in Finnish)
  3. HS: Saimaannorppa (in Finnish)
  • Media related to Puruvesi at Wikimedia Commons


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