Lake Oulu
Oulu, Lake
(Finnish, Oulujärvi), lake in central Finland consisting of several stretches whose total area is 887 sq km. Its surface elevation is 123 m, and its maximum depth 34 m. There are approximately 500 islands, including the large Manamansalo Island. The highly indented shorelines are covered with forest. Lake Oulu is icebound between mid-November and mid-May. It is the source of the Oulu River, which empties into the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea. There is navigation and fishing on the lake. The city of Kajaani is situated near the southeastern shore.