Finland · FI

Elkianjarvi

Lake Elkiänjärvi — entered on Google Maps in its plain-ASCII form as "Elkianjarvi" — is a small, remarkably shallow lake set in the farmland-and-forest countryside of Suo-Anttila in Luumäki, South Karelia, roughly 170 km east of Helsinki. It is not a resort or a postcard highlight, but a quiet, local lake: about 1.8 square kilometres of brownish, gently lapping water ringed by spruce woods, a handful of islets and scattered holiday cottages. What makes an unexpected detour worthwhile is what lies around its shores. On the rocky slope of Vaskivuori sits an ancient rock painting, and within easy reach run the trenches and concrete bunkers of the Salpalinja, the Second World War defensive line whose 1941 fortifications actually cut this lake in two. For travellers drawn to Karelia's understated nature and wartime history rather than its grander sights, Elkiänjärvi offers a calm, off-the-beaten-track stop.