Saatse Boot

The current Estonian–Russian border in Setomaa was established in 1944 when most of the territory of Estonian Petseri County was transferred to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

The border is oddly shaped because the area was historically owned by a farm at the Russian village of Gorodishche located 1.5 km (0.9 mi) further east.

The opportunity to transit through Russian territory is used not only by locals, but has turned into a major tourist attraction for remote Setomaa Parish and is advertised as such.

On May 22, 2024, Estonian news outlets quoted Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets as excluding any land swaps with Russia for now and instead planning to construct Estonia's border fence and a new, shorter detour road 4.7 km in length around the Saatse Boot plus upgrades on 1.7 km of existing roads for a total cost of c. € 4 mln.

[8] The detour should be completed by 2026; the transit road through Russian territory currently remains open, no incidents on it having been reported, the minister said.

Former Värska Parish, with the Saatse Boot marked by the circle on the northeastern border. The road crossing through Russia is marked in yellow.
Map of Lutepää Triangle and Saatse Boot.
Road 178 crossing the Russian border at Lutepää Triangle.
Saatse Boot sign for one of the two parts where it goes through Russian territory