Varkaus

Set on the straits between two parts of Lake Saimaa in Finland's North Savonia region, Varkaus is an industrial town whose name once meant "strait" in old Finnish. The Saimaa Canal passes through, giving the town a strong waterside character. Stora Enso's paper mills have long defined its economy, though the industry has contracted since the early 2000s. The town sits between Kuopio and Savonlinna, making it a practical stop in the Finnish lake district.

• Population19,603
• Nearest water from center0.4 km
• Nearest mountain from center2.0 km