By the lake have lived some Finnlands greatist artists. Check by Google or Wikipedia. Lake is not so big and is quite low. You can swim, paddle, fish altought it is not so clean as meny other lakes in Finnland.

Took the R commuter train from Helsinki station (14 euros return ticket). Hired bikes from Janne rentals in shopping precinct (8 euros for day). Simple gearless bikes but fine for the paths and cycle track around the lake. You could easily cycle the 25km right round in under 2 hours. We took 5 hours as we visited Ainola, Halosenniemi and Lotta Svarf museum ( which has a great café).

We visited the lakeside area whilst going to the the Lotta Museum and an Art gallery.This whole area is fitted with homes of artists and musicians and I recommend a visit to them all,although some are closed until after Easter.
It was a breezy,snowy day when we visited and the lake ,still frozen ,was glistening in the sunshine.To make it even better someone was kite surfing on ice skates and a postman on a motorised scooter just passed by.
I can understand artists coming here,the light is beautiful and the scenery from dappled sunshine to dark ,brooding woods.Too cold to walk around the lake today but in summer it is a great area for cycling,walking and swimming.
You will need transport to get here