2 / 3 Saimaa: its people and economy Before the construction of roads and railways, the twisting waterways of Saimaa were the only feasible way of getting around the region. Cargo ships navigate the deep waterways of Saimaa even in icy conditions. Before the construction of roads and railways, the twisting waterways of Saimaa were the only feasible way of getting around the region. They were navigated by boat in summer and by horse-drawn sleigh on the ice in winter. Shipping continued to play a major transport role until the early 20th century, but today the well-marked waterways are primarily used by leisure craft. The deep-water channels, which are kept open in winter, are navigated by cargo ships to industrial ports as far north as Varkaus. The first factories - ironworks and sawmills - were founded in the early 19th century. Harnessing the rapids to generate electricity and constructing the Saimaa Canal laid the foundation for the rise of the wood-processing