Borders of Finland

Chronological history The borders of Finland are the dividing lines between it and the neighbouring countries of Norway, Russia and Sweden.

The western tripoint is marked by Treriksröset, a stone cairn where both countries border Sweden.

The eastern tripoint is marked by Treriksrøysa, a stone cairn where both countries border Russia.

The 1751 treaty granted the Sami people the right to cross the border freely with their reindeer, as they traditionally had done.

In 1852, the Norway–Finland/Russia was closed, causing trouble for the Sami, who needed the Finnish forests for reindeer winter grazing.

The Moscow Peace Treaty was signed and Finland ceded more than 10% of its pre-war territory, much of its industry and power generation, and the fourth largest city, Viipuri, to Russia, resulting in the migration of approximately 12% of the Finish population behind the new border.

Before 1991, no more than 9000 Russian visitors crossed the border, but in 1996 this figure had surged past 170 000 and continued to grow.

The Treaty of Teusina concluded in 1595, ending a bloody guerrilla war between the two countries (known as the Long Wrath) that had raged for 25 years.

Under the Treaty, the northern section of Finland's eastern border made a great leap eastwards, reaching the Arctic Ocean.

At the mouth of the Torniojoki river, Pirkkio island, the harbor of Roytta and the city of Tornio were agreed to belong to Russia.

This process created caused sovereignty islands, which are physically in one country, but whose owners live in the other.

Some ports have border controls which must be visited by boats arriving from countries outside the Schengen Area.

[5] The following border controls exist for boats:[6] Santio, Haapasaari, Helsinki, Hanko, Åland, Saimaa Canal.