Pielisjoki canals

The 79 kilometres (about 49 miles) long river Pielisjoki is located in Eastern Finland between the City of Joensuu and the municipality of Eno. It connects lakes Pielinen and Pyhäselkä. Lake Pyhäselkä is a part of Saimaa watercourse. Difference between water levels of these two lakes is 16.6 metres (about 55'). In the old days before the canals were built, this was a real problem. The highest rapids located in the municipalities Eno and Kontiolahti.

For more information about the individual canals, please look at:
Joensuu
Utra
Kuurna
Paihola
Haapavirta
Jakokoski
Saapaskoski
Kaltimo
Nesterinsaari
Häihä

Three phases of canalising
The River Pielisjoki has been canalised three times. The first canals were so called boat canals; they were not equipped with locks. Instead, they had towpaths. These boat canals were later developed into lock chambers.
The first real canalising was done between 1874 - 1879. During those years, canals of Joensuu, Utra, Kuurna, Paihola, Haapavirta, Jakokoski, Saapaskoski, Nesterinsaari, Kaltimo (2 lock chambers) and Häihä were built. That time, Finland was a part of the Russian empire. This fact explains the double-headed eagle of the Pielisjoki canalising monument.


Russian eagle on top the Pielisjoki canalising monument in the City of Joensuu.	The eagle. The text says: Alexander II Pielis joen kanava 1874 1879.	Monument is located on the canal island between two rapids.

Nowadays, there are only three canals on the River Pielisjoki: Joensuu, Kuurna and Kaltimo. The third canalising project was implemented in 19561971. Timber floating demanded larger lock chambers and hydroelectric power plants were built in Kaltimo and Kuurna.
In the 1990s, timber floating decreased. Due to high prices of energy, the old and reliable way of transporting timber is viable again.

Timber floating required new investments in Utra.
In 1986, timber was transported into water. Nowadays, technology has changed. (R.K.1986).
Buildings of the local timber floating association and tugboats in Utra.

The old canals
* are under roads and dams like Nesterinsaari
* remain without gates like canals Häihä, Saapaskoski and a part of the old Kaltimo canal
* remain as they were in the old days like canals Jakokoski, Haapavirta and Utra
* are under water like canals Paihola and the old Kuurna canal.
Canal museum in Jakokoski
Kuurna hydroelectric plant was taken into use in 1971. The Finnish Maritime Administration decided to save some of the old canals as a museum. Canal Master Toivo Kettunen began collecting material and equipment relating to canals and canal building. Thus, it is correct to call him the father of the Finnish canal museum.
Jakokoski was the first official museum canal. When the centenary jubilee of the Pielisjoki canals was celebrated in 1977 [sic], there was a large collection of canal material in Jakokoski and the nationwide canal museum work was initiated in Finland. Nowadays, six local canal museums belong to the Finnish Canal Museum: Jakokoski, Taipale in the City of Varkaus, Saimaa Canal museum in the City of Lappeenranta, Varistaipale in the municipality of Heinävesi, Herraskoski in the City of Virrat and Ämmäkoski in the City of Kajaani.
Canal enthusiasm grows
Jakokoski canal is a very popular sight in the municipality of Kontiolahti. Descriptions of boat trips on the River Pielisjoki are found in Internet. Some websites present even the old canals.
Canals are slowly becoming an important part of local history like old houses, beautiful landscapes and biographies. According to a local newspaper, canals Saapaskoski, Kaltimo and Häihä are the most important monuments of cultural history in the area. A magnificent example of the meaning of canals is the project implemented by a school (Pielisjoen koulu) in the City of Joensuu. Pupils have visited old and current canals and written an accurate and detailed history of them.
Please use Finnish entries "kanavamuseo" or "museokanava" and names of the canals if you want to have more information. Mostly, the websites are Finnish but some of them have English résumés.

Sources: The newspaper Karjalainen 25.7.2002: "Suomen kanavamuseon isä on Jakokoskella". The newspaper Karjalainen 22.4.1998: "Pielisjoen rantakaavoitus muokkaa Enon keskeisintä ympäristöä". The following websites: www.fma.fi/vapaa_aikaan/kanavat/index.php?page=kanavat , www.jakokoski.net , www.kontiolahti.fi

Do send comments or further information to Bosse Arnholm

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Timber floating required new investments in Utra.	In 1986, timber was transported into water. Nowadays, technology has changed. (R.K.1986).	Buildings of the local timber floating association and tugboats in Utra.