Asikkala

Asikkala is located in Southern Finland and is a part of Päijänne Tavastia region. Vääksy is the vivid center of Asikkala. Vääksy is located between two lakes: Vesijärvi
and Päijänne.

Asikkala municipality was established in 1848. The population is approximately 8400; in the summertime near 18.000. The area of Asikkala is 756 km2 of which the water surface is 192 km2. The shore-line is 581 km. The distances from the nearest towns are:

• Helsinki 130 km
• Hämeenlinna 89 km
• Lahti 25 km
• There are 11 main villages in Asikkala.
• There are 6 basic-schools of which 4 are in villages.
• In Vääksy there is also a secondary school.
• There are 4 nurseries and 1 English playschool.

The nature is beautiful in Asikkala. The charming population center, enchanting small villages and diverse services make Asikkala a unique place to live. Here both regular
inhabitants and thousands on summer residents enjoy life side by side and visitors are welcomed with open arms.

Enjoy a nice walk in the unique scenery of Vääksy Canal area. You can stop by in the Water Mill Museum, the art exhibitions and step in tiny boutiques. Asikkala is known of Rapala-industries, lures and wobblers.

The story of Rapala is told in Päijännehouse, The Museum of Recreational Fishing. The drinkable blue waters of lake Päijänne flow from the open waters of Asikkala open lake through one of longest continuous rock bed tunnels in the world to the capital area.

Vääksy is known of the canal, which shares the village in two sides. Construction of Vääksy canal began in 1868 and was completed in 1871. Today Vääksy is one of the busiest
inland leisure waterways in Europe. The difference of the height between two lakes is 3 meters.
The area is popular destination in the summertime and boasts many attractions and a choice on charming local shops.

There is also another canal, which is situated in Kalkkinen. The canal was in use from the year 1878 as log floating (The canal lock is 500 m long as in Vääksy it is 42 m long.)
Today it is also remained as a leisure waterway between Päijänne and lake Ruotsalainen and Kymi-river.

Pulkkilanharju ridge is 8 kilometers long esker-island. It was shaped by the last Ice Age. It is nationally important place for ornithologists to observe the migration of birds in the spring and autumn as well as a tremendous attraction. It also partly belongs to Päijänne National Park.

In the municipal coat of arms of Asikkala the crosswise section division represents the location of the municipality on two sides of two lakes (Päijänne and Vesijärvi.) The
flowers in the section are the flower of potato and the flower of flax. They represent the significance of the agricultural history in the region.

Slogan: Asikkala, the gate to Päijänne

[gallery_bank type=”images” format=”masonry” title=”true” desc=”false” responsive=”true” display=”all” sort_by=”random” animation_effect=”bounce” album_title=”true” album_id=”2″]