Imatra is located in the Southeastern part of Finland, in the region of South Karelia, by the shores of Lake Saimaa. Imatra and its main sight Imatrankoski rapids are the oldest tourist attraction in Finland. The rapids have been one of the most significant sights in Europe since the 18th century, and the wild water has not lost its allure over the ages.
The race takes place at Imatra Ukonniemi ports resort area, a perfect setting for an active holiday! The area has numerous modern sports facilities, two big spa hotels and all the services skier would need. Imatra Ukonniemi is known as a first snow training destination, as they open 5 km first snow ski track every year in late October.
All of this is located on the shores of Lake Saimaa, the biggest lake in Finland. Lake Saimaa is a labyrinth formed by wide waters and thousands of islands, not just a simple lake basin. It has the world's longest lake coastline, 14,500 km long, and it boasts 13,710 islands. This is Finland's largest lake, and it's the fourth largest natural freshwater lake in Europe.
The services of the Imatra city centre are a little more than five kilometres away from Ukonniemi, and Ukonniemi is only a two-hour train ride away from Helsinki.
