1 / 3 Saimaa: its people and economy The first people came to the Saimaa region immediately after the ice had retreated. These pioneers were hunters and fishermen, who moved with their prey. The area was treeless tundra at the time. About 10,000 years ago, pine forests began to cover the land. Rock paintings in red ochre on steep cliffs all around the Saimaa region hark back to the hunting-and-gathering days. It was not until the 13th century, with the advent of agriculture, that permanent settlements were set up. The Saimaa region was for a long time a frontier zone between two major powers, Sweden and Russia (formerly Novgorod). In fact, the oldest towns in the area Rock paintings on sheer cliffs depict life thousands of years ago. Kolmiköytinen, Ruokolahti grew up around fortresses built by either side. Today, there are six towns around Saimaa - from south to north, Lappeenranta, Imatra, Mikkeli, Savonlinna, Varkaus and Joensuu - and about 30 other municipalities. The total population is about 350,000, although in many places the population increases by anything up to double in summer as holidaymakers occupy the 40,000 summer cottages in the region.