Päijänne

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Päijänne (pă´ēyăn´nā), lake c.560 sq mi (1,450 sq km), S central Finland, stretching c.85 mi (130 km) from Lahti, the chief port, N to Jyväskylä. One of the largest lakes of the Finnish plateau, it consists of several long rocky basins dotted with numerous islands. The Kymijoki drains it into the Gulf of Finland. Lake steamers and lumber rafts utilize the waterway.