Kiera Jefferson
Finland is a country with an abundance of water, boasting approximately 187,888 lakes and ponds larger than 500 square meters, as well as 25,000 kilometers of rivers. While Finland's tap water is considered among the cleanest in the European Union, the ecological status of its numerous lakes varies. While larger lakes and northern Finnish waters are generally in good condition, small lakes suffer from eutrophication and excessive plant growth due to nutrient loading from agriculture and diffuse sources. The coastal waters, particularly the Finnish Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland, are also susceptible to pollution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of lakes in Finland | 187,888 |
| Number of ponds in Finland | 187,888 |
| Total number of water bodies | 187,888 lakes and ponds, 650 rivers |
| Length of rivers | 25,000 km |
| Number of motorboats | 300,000 |
| Number of sailboats | 20,000 |
| Number of canoes | 50,000 |
| Water quality | Tap water ranked among the cleanest in the EU; natural water not recommended for drinking; groundwater of good quality; coastal waters poor quality; large lakes and northern waters in good or very good ecological state; small lakes suffer from eutrophication |
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What You'll Learn
Finland has 187,888 lakes
Finland has earned the nickname "The Land of a Thousand Lakes" for good reason. With an estimated 187,888 lakes, Finland is uniquely rich in surface waters. To put that into perspective, Finland has around 25,000km of rivers and almost a tenth of the country's total land area is covered by water.
The lakes in Finland were largely created by glaciation. Around 10,000 years ago, continental glaciers covered the majority of what is now Finland. As the glaciers began to melt, they left behind mountains, valleys, depressions, and fields of glacial mineral deposits. The sheets of ice moving across the surface of the Earth created divots, gouges, and craters that filled up with water, forming the lakes we see today.
Most of the lakes in Finland are small, but there are 309 lakes or reservoirs with a surface area larger than 10 km². There are about 5,600 lakes in Finland that are larger than 0.1 km² (10 hectares or 100,000 square meters). The largest lake in Finland is Saimaa, which, with a surface area of more than 4,400 square kilometers, is the fourth-largest natural freshwater lake in Europe. Lake Saimaa itself contains 5,484 islands, and the greater Saimaa region numbers up to 13,710 islands. Lake Päijänne, the second-largest lake in Finland, is used as a drinking water supply for Helsinki.
While Finland's tap water is considered among the cleanest in the European Union, ecological reports demonstrate that water quality for aquatic life remains questionable. This is mainly due to the large amounts of agricultural production in Finland, causing nutrient overgrowth in lakes and rivers. Eutrophication is a particular problem in small lakes, due to loading from diffuse sources, internal phosphorus loading, and changes in the food web. However, Finland has implemented water protection measures, and the quality of the easternmost reaches of the Gulf of Finland has improved as a result.
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85% of lakes are in good condition
Finland is a country with an abundance of water, boasting an impressive 187,888 lakes and ponds larger than 500m2, as well as 25,000km of rivers. With almost a tenth of the country's total land area covered by water, it is no surprise that the quality of this water is a significant focus for the nation.
Finland's tap water is now ranked among the cleanest in the European Union, a notable achievement considering the uproar and panic that water pollution caused in the past. This improvement is the result of Finland's ambitious water protection measures, which aim to address the ecological status of its waters. An assessment of Finland's waters revealed that 85% of the surface area of its lakes and 65% of its rivers are in a good or very good state. This positive development is a testament to Finland's efforts to safeguard its aquatic ecosystems.
While the majority of Finland's lakes are in good condition, it is important to acknowledge that small lakes continue to suffer from eutrophication. Eutrophication occurs when excessive nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, cause an overgrowth of plants and algae in water bodies. In Finland, over half of the nutrient load that causes eutrophication comes from agriculture. The problem is exacerbated by internal phosphorus loading, changes in the food web, and diffuse sources such as farmland and managed forests.
To combat eutrophication, Finland has implemented various in-lake restoration methods, including aeration, food-web management, control of macrophytes, raising water levels, and dredging. These measures have shown promising results, with about 50 new projects launched annually to improve water quality. Additionally, Finland is working to restore pathways for fish, addressing the recent extinction of migratory fish stocks.
While 85% of Finland's lakes being in good condition is a commendable achievement, it is crucial to continue implementing protective measures to preserve the country's precious water resources for future generations.
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Eutrophication is a major issue
Finland is a country rich in water resources, with a total of 187,888 lakes and ponds larger than 500m2, and rivers totalling 25,000km in length. Almost a tenth of the country is covered by water. Finland's tap water is ranked among the cleanest in the European Union, and the country has been rated among the world's leading countries in many international comparisons of environmental protection standards.
However, eutrophication is a major issue, particularly in small lakes. Eutrophication is the enrichment of water by nutrient loading, which causes excessive plant growth and depletes oxygen levels. In Finland, over half of the nutrient load that causes eutrophication in water bodies comes from agriculture. Finland's small and shallow bodies of water are sensitive to pollution, and the country has struggled with eutrophication for decades. In 1997, massive algal blooms occurred in the Gulf of Finland, which was a clear consequence of decades of excessive nutrient loads. Eutrophication is a gradual environmental change that can suddenly attract public attention when a certain threshold is exceeded.
The Finnish government has implemented various measures to combat eutrophication, such as selective fishing, oxygenation, and the removal of aquatic vegetation. These measures have already been applied to almost a thousand lakes. Other restoration methods include aeration, food-web management, control of macrophytes, raising water levels, and dredging.
Despite these efforts, eutrophication remains a significant problem in Finland's inland waters and the Baltic Sea. It could take decades to resolve this issue, as it requires keeping nutrient inputs, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, down to acceptable levels. The depletion of oxygen in the Baltic Sea is a consequence of high nutrient inputs, which leads to the release of phosphorus from seafloor sediments. While the waters of the Gulf of Finland near Helsinki have improved due to successful environmental protection work, the status of the Finnish Archipelago Sea and the Gulf of Finland remains alarming.
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Diffuse pollution is hard to curb
Finland is home to 187,888 lakes and ponds larger than 500m2, with almost a tenth of the country's total land area covered by water. While Finland's tap water is considered among the cleanest in the European Union, the water quality for aquatic life remains questionable. Diffuse pollution, particularly from farmland, managed forests, and rural settlements, is a significant challenge.
Diffuse pollution refers to the gradual contamination of water bodies from various sources, such as contaminated sediments, soils, and atmospheric deposits. In Finland, significant quantities of pollutants from these sources can leach into the abundant lakes and rivers. While Finland has made impressive strides in reducing point source pollution, such as that from industry and municipal wastewater treatment plants, curbing diffuse pollution has proven more difficult.
The main issue caused by diffuse pollution in Finnish lakes is eutrophication, which leads to excessive plant growth, especially in shallow lakes. Eutrophication is driven by nutrient loading, with over half of the nutrients contributing to eutrophication in Finnish water bodies originating from agricultural activities. This includes runoff from farmland and managed forests, as well as livestock and pulp factories contributing to downstream pollution.
Addressing diffuse pollution is challenging due to its dispersed nature. While point sources can be easily monitored and regulated, diffuse sources are more challenging to manage. They require the collective action of numerous individuals and industries to implement best practices and reduce pollutant loads. This includes farmers and other individuals doing their part to keep pollutants out of Finland's waterways.
Furthermore, the impact of diffuse pollution can be insidious, with pollutants accumulating over time and the effects persisting even after pollutant loads have been reduced. This means that, even with effective water protection measures in place, it can take a significant amount of time for water quality to improve. This is a challenge that Finland continues to grapple with, as reflected in the varying ecological statuses of its numerous water bodies.
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Water protection measures are improving
Finland is a country rich in surface waters, with 187,888 lakes and ponds larger than 500m2, and rivers totalling 25,000km in length. Almost a tenth of the country's total land area is covered by water. Finland's tap water is ranked among the cleanest in the European Union. However, the quality of water for aquatic life remains questionable. This is due to the large amounts of agricultural production in Finland, causing nutrient overgrowth in lakes and rivers.
Finland has implemented various water protection measures to improve water quality, particularly in its lakes. Eutrophication, caused by excessive nutrient loads, has been a major issue in Finnish lakes, especially in small and shallow lakes. To address this, Finland has employed in-lake restoration methods such as aeration, food-web management, control of macrophytes, raising water levels, and dredging. These methods have been applied to almost a thousand lakes, and water quality is now classified as excellent or good across 80% of the total area of Finland's lakes. Waters near industrial facilities have also become cleaner in recent years due to effective pollution control measures.
Finland's Water Stewardship Action Plan for 2023-2025 further demonstrates its commitment to water protection. The plan includes goals such as zero pollution and control of diffuse pollution, sustainable and equitable water withdrawals, and the protection of nature through the promotion of nature-based solutions and regenerative agriculture. The country also aims to improve water management in agriculture and forestry, targeting catchment areas to better balance the needs of these sectors with water protection. Regional Environment Centres have provided grants to support local and regional projects aimed at restoring lakes and other water bodies.
Finland has also contributed to international efforts to improve water quality. They have helped improve wastewater treatment in St. Petersburg, which has positively impacted the Gulf of Finland. Additionally, Finland has signed international agreements such as the Helsinki Convention for the protection of the Baltic marine environment and the Fair Water Footprints Declaration, demonstrating their dedication to protecting water resources beyond their borders.
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Frequently asked questions
Finland has approximately 187,888 lakes.
While an exact number cannot be given, it is known that Finland's small lakes suffer from eutrophication, which is caused by nutrient overgrowth in lakes and rivers due to agricultural production. The ecological status of large lakes and northern Finnish waters, on the other hand, is largely good or very good.
Finland has implemented water protection measures, such as improving wastewater treatment facilities, and is working to restore pathways for fish to help with the recent extinction of migratory fish stocks.
