May was extraordinary warm in Finland, so I was lucky to be able to enjoy swimming without a wetsuit almost the whole month. I swim also in winter, so I’m familiar with cold water. But it was so wonderful to swim a bit longer (than just to dip) in sunny weather and warm waters in May! I didn’t bother to stress about blogging. So I kept lines short and hoped photos and videos gave some sense of the swimming locations … Read More
The Folk Park of Saari is located in the Häme Lake Uplands and it was founded in 1932. There are high ridges and 13 lakes and ponds in the area. I went to Lake Suujärvi, a clearwatered lake with small diving tower, with my daughter. We’ve been here before, so we knew water would be chilly in this ground water lake. And so it was, around 14-16 °C. Only two-three meter wide neck of land separates Lake Suujärvi from Lake Kuivajärvi. These lakes are … Read More
I got bicycle from my hotel and rode to Nallikari Beach, which is by the Bay of Bothnia. It was early morning and there were only birds flying around. Beach is very shallow, so I walked about 100 m to be able to swim properly. I guess water was about 11 °C. Good start for the morning! Location: Nallikari Beach, The Bay of Bothnia, Oulu
I had a nice evening swim at my home lake, at Lake Lohja. Lake Lohja offers great locations and sceneries for open water swimmers. Four years ago I started to invite people to Lake Lohja to swim with me and things evolved in direction that last spring I started a business called Swimming Holidays in Finland. I hope more people find they way to swim in this wonderful lake and of course in many lakes and ponds around Lake Lohja … Read More
There are 10 public beaches in Loppi, a small rural municipality in Häme Lake Uplands. One of them at Lake Loppijärvi has a wide beach with small marina and children’s playground. I went for an evening swim and enjoyed scenery with two islands nearby. Location: Loppijärvi (11 km²), Loppi
Water temperature was 20,5 °C this evening in Lake Alasjärvi. I’m totally spoiled! Weather has been unusually warm most of the time since beginning of May. Lake Alasjärvi is dark, rich of humus and absorbs sunlight and warms up quickly. I had a nice 1 K evening swim. There were children on the beach swimming and angling, also enjoying the exceptional warmth. Location: Alasjärvi (1,2336 km²), Tervakoski, Janakkala
Lake Kattilajärvi is a clear and remote little lake in Nuuksio National Park area. I was surprised to find a public beach there. Then I noticed there was a small camping center and maybe that’s why the beach was equipped with pier, swimming dock, life belt, etc. Water was really clear and there were hardly any cabins by the lake. I didn’t have time to wander in the woods, but headed soon to Haltia Nature Center to have a lunch. … Read More
Kaitalampi is very popular among open water swimmers. It’s 0,2 km narrow and 1,3 km long pond. Quite peaceful, very beautiful and only 25 km from Helsinki. I planned to swim longer, and water being 14 °C, I borrowed my friend’s wetsuit and felt anguish wearing it….A Canada goose followed us, when we headed to the other end of the pond. She was just curious, not at all aggressive. Lucky us. There are buoys for swimmers and so Kaitalampi is … Read More
This small, 15 m deep lake is very popular during day time, but late in the evening all sunbathers are gone and it’s is great for a lonely evening swim. Lake is part of a Kytäjä-Usmi outdoor area, a pristine Finnish wilderness with forests, ponds, stream, lakes and cliffs. Location: Usminjärvi (0,11 km²), Hyvinkää More information: Map of Kytäjä-Usmi hiking area in Hyvinkää Photos
Perfect. That’s what I can say of today’s swim. Water was 22 °C. Most of the time I was alone. I swam back and forth the shoreline and played with my camera. I felt privileged to have such great conditions. Public beach in Lake Ojajärvi is pretty typical Finnish lakeside beach: it’s remote and clean, surrounded by forests and has a good (actually brand new!) changing room and a life belt hanging somewhere. One island, closest to the beach, looked like … Read More