44 THE FOREST LANDS OF FINLAND. 
The least important of these basins is the West Tavast- 
land one, the waters of which meet in the lake of 
Pyhajarivi, near Tammerfors, and there debouches into 
the Gulf of Bothnia by the river Kumo. Although the 
basin be, as has been said, the least considerable of the 
three, it is one, the affluents of which give collectively a 
river-flow of 1200 kilometers, and they are navigable 
throughout nearly the half of their length. 
‘Amongst the other water-systems of some importance, 
mention may, be made of the Oulujaervi, with an area of 983 
square kilometers, which receives affluents from a number. 
of lakes, some of them extending to the Russian frontier,, 
and pouring its waters into the Gulf of Bothnia, by the: 
large river Ulea. It is calculated that the area of.the 
basin is about 24,000 square kilometers, There is a basin 
of still greater extent situated further to the north. It 
has an area of 50,000 square kilometers, and debouches 
into the same gulf by the Kemi Finally, still further to 
the north, we find the large lake Enare, or Inari, measur- 
ing 1400 square kilometers, covered with ice during ten 
months in the year, and which. flows into the frozen. 
ocean,’ 
In connection with further details given by him, Dr 
Ignatius remarks :—‘ One may from these form some idea. 
of the great development of. inland sheets. of water which 
there is in Finland, and of the importance of these natural 
means of communication, and of how connections may be 
established, more especially those relating to trade and 
commerce,’ 
I have givén details of what. has been experienced by . 
others in descending rivers. In connection with the last 
citation, Dr Ignatius goes on to say: ‘In general the 
rivers of Finland are encumbered with rapids, and con- 
sequently they are only partially navigable, They are, 
however, of great commercial importance, in so far as they. 
serve for the floatage of timber, and thus bring the great 
forests of.the interior into communication with the sea,’ ; 
