Pihtipudas (Niemenharjun Motelli, 83 SB) lies at the NW end of Kolimajarvi, Cheapest way to travel to Scandinavia on the northern boundary of Central Finland. Pyhasalmi is a mining village (iron ore, precious metals), a short way off the road on Pyhajarvi (alt. 141 m-463 ft). E4 now leaves the Lake Plateau and continues via Karsamaki and Leskela to Oulu (219) on the Gulf of Bothnia.
Lahti to Kajaani via Mikkeli and Kuopio (Road 5). This route through the central part of the plateau also starts from Lahti (1 67). On the N side of the town take Road 5, which runs NE. Off the road to the right, in a beautiful setting, is
Vierumaki, with the National Sports College (main building 1937: can be visited). Road 5 then crosses the Kyminjoki, Cheapest way to travel to Scandinavia which drains Lake Paijanne into the Gulf of Finland, on an arched bridge (beautiful view).
Heinola (pop. 16,000; Seurahuone Hotel, 41 youth hostel; camp site), situated on the N side of th,e Jyrangdn-virta, Cheapest way to travel to Scandinavia a stretch of rapids on the Kyminjoki, received its municipal charter in 1776. It is now a popular holiday resort and also an educational and industrial town of some consequence. The finely situated wooden church (1811) has a separate tower built in 1843.
From Lusi Road 59 runs N to Jyvaskyla (153), while Road 5 continues NE through extensive forests and past numerous lakes to Mikkeli (190) on Lake Saimaa.
40 km (25 miles) NE of Mikkeli Road 14 diverges to the right to Savonlinna. Road 5 continues through wooded country via the village of Joroinen (Joronjalki Hotel, 106 b.) to the important industrial town of Varkaus (pop. 25,000; Keskus Hotelli, 120 Taipale, 93 b„ SP; youth hostel; camp site), with sawmills, a paper and cellulose factory, an engineering plant and large shipyards where boats for service on the lakes are built. An interesting feature is the nine-storey water tower (1954) which is also an apartment house (fine view; art museum on ground floor). From Varkaus there are boat services to Kuopio and Savonlinna. (Savonlinna can also be reached on an attractive minor road which runs along the E bank of the Haukivesi.)
