Saimaa

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/saimaa

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Saimaa?Approximately 4,279 square kilometers (1,652 sq mi)
2. What is the location?Southeastern Finland, within the Finnish Lakeland region
3. What is the hydrological classification?Largest natural freshwater lake in Finland; fourth-largest in Europe
4. What is Saimaa and why is it special?Saimaa is Finland's biggest lake and the fourth biggest freshwater lake in Europe. It covers about 4,279 square kilometers and is made of many connected basins, channels, and islands.
5. Why do Saimaa ringed seals live only in this lake?Saimaa ringed seals are a special freshwater seal that only lives in Saimaa. They have adapted to the lake's cold water and build snow lairs on land or vegetation in winter.

Glacial Geomorphology: The study of landforms created by the action of glaciers, such as lakes and valleys.
Substrate Language: An ancient language that was spoken in a region before it was replaced by later dominant languages.
Endemic Species: A species that is native and found only in a specific geographical area.
Eutrophication: The enrichment of a lake or other body of water with dissolved nutrients, often leading to excessive plant growth.