Vaajasalo Round Trip – The Kallavesi Archipelago and Cultural Landscapes
Dear passengers, welcome to a journey into the heart of Lake Kallavesi. Before us lies one of Finland’s most beautiful lake landscapes—a waterway where history, island nature, and the Kuopio way of life exist side by side. As the ship leaves the harbor, we leave behind Kuopio, the vibrant heart of the Savo region. The city was founded on the shores of Lake Kallavesi in the 18th century, and water has always been essential to life here. The lake brought merchants, fishermen, and travelers to the area, and even today Kallavesi defines the rhythm of the entire city.
Lake Kallavesi covers an area of 478 square kilometers, making it the tenth-largest lake in Finland by surface area and the largest lake in the North Savo region. Its average depth is 9.7 meters, while its maximum depth reaches 75 meters. The lake is home to more than 1,900 islands.
1. Pirttiniemi is located on the shores of Lake Kallavesi in the southern part of Kelloniemi. The area is known for its shoreline forests and beautiful views across the lake. Forest trails along the waterfront are popular routes for walkers and outdoor enthusiasts. Pirttiniemi is also home to the Kuopio Yacht Club’s base and a magnificent villa designed by architect Lars Sonck.
2. Toivala Strait connects different parts of Lake Kallavesi and has long served as an important waterway. Here, visitors can enjoy both scenic lake views and the cultural landscapes of the border region between Kuopio and Siilinjärvi. The strait played a significant role during the Finnish War of 1808, when General Johan August Sandels successfully defended the area against Russian attacks for four months.
3. Karhonsaari Island. Near the Toivala Strait lies the rocky island of Karhonsaari. The island is known for its arboretum and the remains of North Savo’s first steam-powered sawmill. Along the nature trail, visitors can discover more than one hundred species of trees and shrubs.
4. Kirkkovirta Channel is a historically significant narrow waterway connecting the eastern and northern parts of Lake Kallavesi toward Jännevirta and the waterways leading to Lake Juojärvi. Before local parish churches were established, residents of the Kallavesi archipelago and surrounding villages traveled by large rowing boats through Kirkkovirta to attend services at Kuopio’s main church. The water flows swiftly through this narrow passage, requiring considerable skill and strength from the rowers. It also served as a well-known landmark along the route, where boats often gathered and waited for one another before continuing together for safety.
5. Sikoniemi. A sawmill and brickworks operated in Sikoniemi from 1907 to 1964. At its peak, the factory produced more than one million bricks annually. The industrial area functioned as a small community of its own, complete with its own power plant.
Electricity was also supplied to the nearby Vaajasalo and Kortejoki sanatoriums. The factory ceased operations in 1962, and the buildings were later demolished. However, the brick chimney and a few remaining structures still stand as reminders of the area’s industrial heritage.
6. Kortesalmi Ferry provides a year-round connection between the mainland and Vaajasalo Island. During winter, the island can also be reached via an ice road.
7. Vaajasalo lies at the heart of the Kallavesi archipelago, where farms, forests, shoreline meadows, and lake views alternate across the landscape. Covering 973 hectares, it is one of the largest islands in Lake Kallavesi. Fewer than one hundred people live on the island year-round.
Vaajasalo is home to Alahovi Winery and a now-abandoned epilepsy hospital, which began operating in 1898 and remained in service until its closure in 1989.
8. Alahovi Winery began operations in May 1995 when Finland’s first estate winery shop was established on the property. Since then, the winery has produced high-quality berry wines, liqueurs, ciders, and, most recently, Vuppe dog beer. At the winery, you are welcomed by owners Risto and Taina Hallman, together with the next generation of the family business, Sigge Hallman.
We hope you enjoy this journey through the unique landscapes, history, and culture of the Kallavesi archipelago. Thank you for joining us aboard.