The island is located in the areas of Suomussalmi (Finland) and Kostomuksha (Russia).

On both sides, it is part of the border zone and is off-limits to the general public.

[1] Kalmasaari was used as a cemetery by the Eastern Orthodox villages of Kuivajärvi, Hietajärvi and Vuokinsalmi until 1922 when the Finland–Russia border was determined.

A new cemetery was established to the Kalmisaari island of lake Kuivajärvi, 4 kilometres west of Kalmasaari.

[1] The Russian name of Kalmasaari is ″Раясаари″, which is a transliterated version of Finnish word ″Rajasaari″ meaning ″Border Island″.