In the 1790s Russia built four lockless canals in the Saimaa waterway: Kutvele in Taipalsaari, Käyhkää in Ruokolahti, Kukonharju on the border of the Ruokolahti and Puumala municipalities and the Telataipale canal in Sulkava. The canals were part of the south-east Finland fortification chain and provided a navigation channel for Russia's Saimaa Fleet from Olavinlinna in Savonlinna to Lappeenranta.

The original Kutvele canal was destroyed at the turn of the 20th century when the waterway was widened to accommodate steam ships and log floating. The original structures of the Kukonharju, Käyhkää and Telataipale have been partly preserved and a restoration project has been launched under the leadership of the National Board of Antiquities. The land areas are mostly in private ownership.

Stages in the history of the canals
1792 construction of the canals begins under the leadership of General Alexander Suvorov.

1796 Kutvele and Kukonharju canals completed.

1798 Käyhkää and Telataipale canals completed. Each canal is guarded by soldiers. Barracks, food and weapons stores, saunas and other ancillary buildings are constructed according to the strength of the guard detachment.

1803 Alexander I makes a tour of inspection of Old Finland. His route takes in the canals.

1811 The canals are repaired by the Russians. Collapsed walls are repaired and the canals are deepened. When Russia's Saimaa fleet became obsolete, the canals also declined in importance. A basic manning level is still maintained, but the main users of the canals are local residents and merchants.

From the 1800s to 2002 the canals, with the exception of Kutvele canal, lie dormant.

2002 The National Board of Antiquities and the Ministry of Labour / South Savo and South-East Finland Employment and Economic Development Centres launch a programme to renovate the canals.

The canals in future
The aim of the renovation project is to safeguard the canals and their surroundings and to upgrade them as operational and attractive historical monuments of the Old Finland period. The canals are being restored as a tourist attraction and a boating route, whilst improving their accessibility.