Central Finland as an administrative and provincial entity is characterised by large lakes. In the course of history they have also served as points of departure for users and makers of maps of the region. As a concept Central Finland was created fairly late. In fact, it was not until the foundation of a separate administrative district in 1960 that it received its final touches.The district was largely made up of municipalities of the Vaasa and Häme administrative districts. Häme extended as far as Muurame, which was a neighbouring municipality of Jyväskylä's. A few municipalities from the administrative districts of Kuopio and Mikkeli were also annexed to the new administrative district of Central Finland. It was only after the district had been founded that one could speak of an administrative and provincial feeling.