The Finnish lakes

 The Finnish lakes

Upon arriving in Kuopio in January, we witnessed something we had never seen before: all the lakes were completely frozen, with a layer of ice on the surface exceeding one meter, allowing us to move across them without fear.

However, it was not immediately possible to skate on them because a thick layer of snow covered the lakes. We could engage in cross-country skiing or some passages were cleared for cars.

Cross coutry skiing on a lake in Kuopio

Around the beginning ebruary, some lakes were cleared, allowing us to skate on them, such as during the Kuopio skating marathon that we participated in.

 Snowmobile on a frozen lake

It was also possible to swim in them, in specially maintained holes with motors churning the water to prevent it from refreezing. It's an experience worth trying to swim in a lake at 0°C.

Hole to swim in the lake

Just before our departure, we witnessed the melting of this layer of ice, making walks on the lakes quite frightening. We could see large cracks or hear cracking noises, making them quite dangerous.

By the end of May, the lakes should be melted, making way for other activities such as fishing and boating.

By Ivan



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