Saraakallio rock paintings

In Laukaa, on the eastern shore of the Saraavesi Lake, you can look backward thousands of years. The 40-meter-high rock formation has more than 100 rock paintings or parts of them, the oldest ones are up to 7,000 years old – older than the Egyptian pyramids. The rock paintings of Saraakallio form the largest continuous area of images in Fennoscandia.

The subjects of the images of Saraakallio include deer, humans, saltires, horn-boat theme, snake, palmprints, double images, zigzag and geometric patterns. Those unfamiliar with rock art scan clearly distinguish 5–6 images, a trained observer dozens of them.

Saraakallio rock paintings can be reached by boat during summer and by the lake ice during winter. The best departure place is the Laukaa Harbour, where you can also rent canoes during summer. The distance from the harbour to the Saraakallio rock paintings is 3 km. Note! Crossing the Saraavesi lake ice is safe only via maintained ski tracks and marked routes.