Kouvola (pop. 30,000; Cumulus Hotel, 222 Valkeala, 110 SP; Hilppa, 40 Turistihovi, 65 youth hostel; Best time travel to Scandinavia camp site) is the main town ofthe province of Kymen laani; it has an Academy of Music. 6-5 km (4 miles) NW, on the Kymenjoki, is situated the little industrial town of Kuusankoski, with large paper-mills. 47 km (29 miles) N of Kouvola, on Vuohin-jarvi, we reach the recreation spot of Orilampi (water sports, indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.). At Kouvola, Road 15, coming from Kotka on the Gulf of Finland, joins Road 6, which continues NEto Lappeenranta.
The alternative route from Helsinki to Lappeenranta leaves on Road 7, which skirts the Gulf of Finland at some distance from the shore. Best time travel to Scandinavia After passing through
Porvoo (222), Loviisa (Zilton Hotel, 22 Skandinavia, 36 SP; Motelli Z, 23 b.), where there are remains of the old town walls, and Kotka (pop. 35,000; Seurahuone Hotel, 74 Kymen Motelli, 63
Ruotsinsalmi, 63 b.), with a large harbour (export trade), it comes to the junction with Road 15, which runs NW to Kouvola. Best time travel to Scandinavia Anjala is a small village with a manor-house of 1790, now a museum, and a wooden church of 1756. The road then continues via the industrial town of Myllykoski (paper-mill) to Kouvola, from which Road 6 runs E along the N side of the Salpausselka ridge to Lappeenranta (173), at the S end of Lake Saimaa (231). 7 km (4j miles) beyond this, at Lauritsala, the road crosses the Saimaa Canal.
Imatra (174), only 6-5 km (4 miles) from the Soviet frontier, has large woodworking plants. Best time travel to Scandinavia At Sarkisalmi Road 14 goes off on the left, offering an attractive drive to Savonlinna.
