Lappeenranta in the context of Finland

In general, a rural area or a countryside is a geographic area that is located outside towns and cities. Typical rural areas have a low population density and small settlements. Agricultural areas and areas with forestry are typically described as rural, as well as other areas lacking substantial development. Different countries have varying definitions of rural for statistical and administrative purposes.

Rural areas have unique economic and social dynamics due to their relationship with land-based industry such as agriculture, forestry, and resource extraction. Rural economics can be subject to boom and bust cycles and vulnerable to extreme weather or natural disasters, such as droughts. These dynamics alongside larger economic forces encouraging urbanization have led to significant demographic declines, called rural flight, where economic incentives encourage younger populations to go to cities for education and access to jobs, leaving older, less educated, and less wealthy populations in the rural areas. Slower economic development results in poorer services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. This cycle of poverty contributes to why three quarters of the global impoverished live in rural areas according to the Food and Agricultural Organization.

A glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Most gliders do not have an engine, although motor-gliders have small engines for extending their flight when necessary by sustaining the altitude (normally a sailplane relies on rising air to maintain altitude) with some being powerful enough to take off by self-launch.

There are a wide variety of types differing in the construction of their wings, aerodynamic efficiency, location of the pilot, controls and intended purpose. Most exploit meteorological phenomena to maintain or gain height. Gliders are principally used for the air sports of gliding, hang gliding and paragliding. However some spacecraft have been designed to descend as gliders and in the past military gliders have been used in warfare. Some simple and familiar types of glider are toys such as paper planes and balsa wood gliders.

Imatra is a city in Finland, located in the southeastern interior of the country. Imatra is located in the region of South Karelia, on Lake Saimaa and the River Vuoksi. The population of Imatra is approximately 25,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 37,000. It is the 42nd most populous municipality in Finland.

Imatra lies on the border with Russia. On the other side of the border, seven kilometres (4.3 mi) away from the centre of Imatra, lies the Russian town of Svetogorsk. The city of St. Petersburg is situated 210 km (130 mi) to the southeast, the Finnish capital Helsinki is 230 km (140 mi) away and Lappeenranta, the nearest Finnish city, is 37 km (23 mi) away.

Lappee is an old parish and a former municipality of Finland in the South Karelia region, originally in Viipuri Province and after the Second World War, Kymi Province. It was consolidated with Lappeenranta in 1967 together with Lauritsala.

Its seat was in Vainikkala near the border with Russia, however the largest settlements were Laihia and Lavola near Lappeenranta and Lauritsala.

Lauritsala (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈlɑu̯ritsɑlɑ]) is a former Finnish market town in the South Karelia region. It was closed down on 1 January 1967 and was incorporated into Lappeenranta. The present district of Lauritsala comprises only the center of the former town.

Nuijamaa (Finnish: [ˈnui̯jɑˌmɑː]; literally translated the "club land") is a former municipality in the province of South Karelia in Finland. The municipality had 1,199 inhabitants and an area of 136 km² in 1988. Nuijamaa was a Finnish-speaking municipality. Nuijamaa bordered the municipalities of Lappee, Lappeenranta, Lauritsala, Taipalsaari, Lemi, Luumäki, Ylämaa, and Joutseno. It also shared a border with Russia. It is 26 kilometres (16 mi) from Nuijamaa to the city center of Lappeenranta and 39 kilometres (24 mi) to the medieval town of Vyborg, Russia.

Before the Winter War, Nuijamaa had an area of 356 km (137 sq mi). With the Continuation War in 1944, 220 km (85 sq mi) of the municipality was ceded to Russia. In 1975, an international border with Russia opened in Nuijamaa. The total crossings in 2007 were over 1.7 million.

Joutseno (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈjou̯tseno]) is a former town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the South Karelia region.

The municipality was unilingually Finnish. Joutseno was consolidated with Lappeenranta on 1 January 2009.

Ylämaa (Finnish: [ˈylæˌmɑː]; literally translated the "Highland") is a former municipality of Finland, located in the province of Southern Finland as part of the South Karelia region. It was consolidated with Lappeenranta on January 1, 2010.

The municipality had a population of 1,408 (31 December 2009) and covers an area of 408.94 square kilometres (157.89 sq mi) of which 29.19 km (11.27 sq mi) is water. The population density is 3.71 inhabitants per square kilometre (9.6/sq mi). The municipality was unilingually Finnish.

An inland port is a port on an inland waterway, such as a river, lake, or canal, which may or may not be connected to the sea. The term "inland port" is also used to refer to a dry port.

Joensuu (Finnish: [ˈjoensuː] ; Karelian: Jovensuu, lit. 'river's mouth') is a city in Finland and the regional capital of North Karelia. It is located in the eastern interior of the country and in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Joensuu is approximately 78,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 127,000. It is the 11th most populous municipality in Finland, and the ninth most populous urban area in the country.

Joensuu was founded in 1848 by the Russian Emperor Nicholas I during Grand Duchy of Finland period. The city is located on the northern shore of Lake Pyhäselkä, the northern part of Lake Saimaa, at the mouth of the River Pielinen. The nearest major city, Kuopio in North Savo, is located 136 kilometres (85 mi) to the west. From Joensuu, the distance to Lappeenranta, the capital of South Karelia, is 233 kilometres (145 mi) along Highway 6.

Vainikkala is a small village of approximately 400 inhabitants in South Karelia, Eastern Finland. It is part of the Lappeenranta municipality and is located about 29 kilometres (18 mi) south of the city centre.

Vainikkala is right on the Finnish border with Russia and the village's train station serves as an important checkpoint for Finnish border controls and customs. The train station is the junction for all passenger trains between Finland and Russia, though there are no ticket sales done in Vainikkala; the nearest ticket office is in Lappeenranta and the nearest ticket office for passage to or from Russia is in Lahti. The Allegro high-speed train service between Helsinki and Saint Petersburg stopped in Vainikkala several times per day until its discontinuation in 2022. In 2019, more than 656,000 people crossed the border at Vainikkala. The freight terminal makes Vainikkala an important node in trade between the EU and Russia.

Taipalsaari is a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the South Karelia region. The municipality has a population of 4,591 (30 June 2025) and covers an area of 761.94 square kilometres (294.19 sq mi) of which 416.88 km (160.96 sq mi) is water. The population density is 13.32 inhabitants per square kilometre (34.5/sq mi). Neighbouring municipalities are Lappeenranta, Lemi, Puumala, Ruokolahti and Savitaipale. The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

The average temperature during the summer months on Taipalsaari is the highest among Finnish municipalities.

Luumäki (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈluːˌmæki]) is a municipality of Finland. Its seat is in the Taavetti village. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the South Karelia region. The municipality has a population of 4,327(30 June 2025) and covers an area of 859.83 square kilometres (331.98 sq mi) ofwhich 109.77 km (42.38 sq mi)is water. The population density is5.77 inhabitants per square kilometre (14.9/sq mi). The municipality is unilingually Finnish.

Neighbour municipalities are Hamina, Kouvola, Lappeenranta, Lemi, Miehikkälä and Savitaipale. Lappeenranta is located 38 kilometres (24 mi) from Luumäki.

Kouvola (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈkou̯ʋolɑ]) is a city in Finland and the administrative capital of Kymenlaakso. It is located in the southeastern interior of the country. The population of Kouvola is approximately 78,000. It is the 12th most populous municipality in Finland, and the 17th most populous urban area in the country.

Kouvola is located along the Kymijoki River in the region of Kymenlaakso, 62 kilometres (39 mi) kilometers east of Lahti, 87 kilometres (54 mi) west of Lappeenranta and 134 kilometres (83 mi) northeast of the capital, Helsinki. With Kotka, Kouvola is one of the capital centers and is the largest city in the Kymenlaakso region.