Pälkäne is a municipality in Tampere region (Pirkanmaa). It has abt. 4300 inhabitants. There are many big lakes in Pälkäne. The biggest ones are Pälkänevesi and Mallasvesi. These lakes are connected by river Kostianvirta, which was formed in 1604. Kostianvirta is famous for a Battle of Kostianvirta between the Russian and Swedish armies. The Swedish army was defeated, and Finland was occupied by the Russian 8 years afterwards.