THE WATER SYSTEMS. 45 



The following more detailed account of the different 

 water-systems which constitute so important a feature of 

 the physical geography of Finland, are supplied by Dr 

 Helm, in a little book entitled Finnland,und die Finldnder, 

 published in 1869. 



' The sea-coast,' says Dr Helm, ' is rocky so rocky that 

 it may be said to be rock -bound crags, cliffs, islands, 

 everywhere beyond the shore, and that to such an extent 

 that they render navigation dangerous. Through the 

 different directions in which these rocks extend Irom the 

 coast, and the different spurs and branches thrown out by 

 the mountain-ridge, or call it if you will the land-ridge 

 of Maanselka, in. the interior, arise the different water- 

 systems of Finland. Through the arrangement of these 

 the country is divided into rive distinct river courses or 

 water-systems. 



' 1. The northern water-system with the Haupt-See, 

 Enare. 



' 2. The Bothnia water-system with the Haupt-See, 

 Ulea. 



' 3. The south-west water-system with the Central See, 

 Pyhajarvi, the mouth of which is in the Gulf of Bothnia. 



' 4. The central water-system, with the fifty miles long 

 Hauptbecken. or principal stream, Paijanna, which, through 

 the Kymenfluss, flows into the Gulf of Finland. 



' 5. The eastern water-system, 150 miles long, with the 

 Central See, Enonvesi, which, flowing through the Falls 

 of Imatra, empties itself into Lake Ladoga. 



' By the Saima Canal, proceeding from the Saima Lake, 

 which is the largest in the land, the whole of these water- 

 systems are brought into communication with the sea 

 through the Gulf of Finland at Wyborg. 



' Out of Northern America neither in the Old World 

 nor in the New is there a country so rich in waters as is 

 Finland. Were it under a milder climate these riches of 

 water-communications would tell upon the inland trans- 

 port trade and traffic ; but as things are, they at present 

 are more of an impediment or hindrance to comiimnica- 



