Joki

Definition

The Finnish word for river. Rivers link many lakes and flow toward the Baltic Sea, so a joki on a map often explains why a chain of lakes forms a long route. Rivers can freeze in winter, but ice over moving water is never uniformly safe, because currents thin it from below. Read -joki endings as a sign of flowing water and be careful near rapids and spring melt. See also: järvi, salmi, and the guide Lakeland Finland: A Practical Guide to Lake Travel.