Finland Neighbouring Countries and Nordic Borders

Finland’s Neighboring Countries

When we talk about Finland and its neighbors, we’re zooming in on Russia, Norway, and Sweden. Each shares its own kind of connection with Finland that’s worth a closer look.

Russia: Big Brother Next Door

The Finnish-Russian border stretches over a whopping 830 miles, a trek through wild forests and quiet countryside (Wikipedia). This isn’t just a line on a map; it marks the edge of the European Union and NATO territories. The political dance between Finland and Russia keeps this border in the spotlight, thanks to Russia’s regional clout (Wikipedia).

Border Feature	Details
Length	1,340 km (830 mi)
Scenery	Forests and rural spaces
Highlighted Role	EU and NATO frontline

Norway: Heading West

Finland shares a sliver of its border with Norway, running about 736 kilometers long (National Parks Finland). This stretch follows a few serene rivers like the Tenojoki and Inarijoki, with roads crossing here and there. Noteworthy points to cross include Kilpisjärvi, Utsjoki, and Näätämö.

Border Feature	Details
Length	736 km
Notable Rivers	Tenojoki, Inarijoki
Border Crossings	6 (Kilpisjärvi, Utsjoki, Näätämö)

Sweden: Across the Streams

With Sweden, Finland shares a 555-kilometer stretch that dances along the Könkämäeno, Muonionjoki, and Tornionjoki Rivers (National Parks Finland). Both countries enjoy being part of the Schengen Area, making border-hopping pretty hassle-free.

Border Feature	Details
Length	555 km
Main Rivers	Könkämäeno, Muonionjoki, Tornionjoki
Cross-Border Harmonies	Schengen and Nordic Passport Union

Wanna dig deeper into the geography of other countries? You might like articles on borders of nations like Dominican Republic, Ecuador, or Egypt.

Demarcation and Treaties

Finland-Russia Border

Stretching roughly 1,340 kilometers (about 830 miles), the boundary between Finland and Russia is as much about nature as politics— it’s mostly made up of vast taiga forests and quiet rural areas. And on the world stage, it’s not just a divider between two nations but also a line marking the edge of the European Union and NATO.

The checkpoints along the Finland-Russia border are like gatekeepers, only opening up for folks with the right papers and at specific spots like Vaalimaa and Nuijamaa. Recently, near the end of 2023, Finland decided to temporarily shut down all crossings due to a sudden rush of asylum seekers coming over from Russia. All this is part of the constant back-and-forth between the countries as they hash out concerns about that border line.

Norway-Finland Border Treaty

The Norway-Finland border runs for 736 kilometers, trailing along rivers like the Tenojoki and Inarijoki. These waters have been markers since 1751, when a treaty first put the line between the two countries on maps and helped shape how they interact geographically and politically.

For those on the move, six main roads connect Norway and Finland, making it easy enough if you know the way:

• Kilpisjärvi (farthest to the west)
• Utsjoki (farthest up north)
• Näätämö (off to the east)

These paths mean folks and goods hop across without too much hassle. We’ve got some tips for breezing through border tries if you need ‘em.

Sweden-Finland Border Establishment

Finland’s border with Sweden is another historical line, stretching 339 miles (545 kilometers) long. The Treaty of Fredrikshamn, inked back in 1809, is the piece of paper that made this line official, as Sweden handed Finland over to Russia, kicking off the Grand Duchy of Finland under Russian rule. This old document is still what today’s Sweden-Finland line looks like.

These days, the border is where cultures and trade flow freely, with many ways to cross and mingle. Curious about more border stories? We wrote about Dominican Republic’s neighbors and Ecuador’s buddies next door.

Every border has its tales—it’s about history, politics, and culture. Grasping these lines helps us see the ties Finland has with its neighbors, and all the talks and agreements that keep those lines peaceful and cooperative.

Diplomatic Relations

Finland’s Political Integrity

Finland’s foreign policy is like the cool kid at the diplomatic party, always making sure nobody’s feathers get ruffled. They’ve got a solid track record of keeping their political and territorial cards close to their chest. By playing the neutrality game and buddying up with neighbors, Finland’s been able to keep things smooth sailing. Now, they’ve got three pals next door: Norway, Sweden, and Russia. Finland’s got its eye on protecting its turf while keeping the peace with its next-door buddies.

Neutrality and Territorial Unity

Finland’s got this whole neutrality thing down to an art. They’re not picking sides like it’s some high school drama—they keep it chill to protect their freedom and stay independent. With this game plan, they’ve managed to keep the peace not just at home but also in the bigger global playground. Take the Russia border, for example. It’s the longest one at 1,340 kilometers, and despite all the geopolitical drama, Finland keeps things friendly and steady, showing just how much they care about sticking together and staying neutral.

Positive Ties with Russia

Russia is like Finland’s go-to stop for imports, making them the best of trade buddies. This trading buddy system keeps the diplomatic vibe going, strong as ever. Back in 2015, a whopping 9.1 million people crossed the Russia-Finland border, like it’s the hip new travel trend of the year. But with 2023’s geopolitical turbulence, those cheerful border antics hit a snag. Finland put a pause on new tourist visas for Russians due to the whole Russo-Ukrainian riff, causing a dip in traffic. But even with the hiccups, there’s still a decent flow thanks to the leftover visas and Schengen passes. Despite all that, Finland’s not backing down from its commitment to keep things peaceful and trade-friendly with Russia.

Curious about other countries’ neighborhood dynamics? Check out the discussions on the Dominican Republic’s neighbors and Ecuador’s borders for more scoop.

The Åland Islands

Autonomy and Unique Status

The Åland Islands are a special place, all decked out with autonomy and officially demilitarized. Back in 1920, the League of Nations nodded and said, “Sure, you do you,” recognizing this quirky island group’s need to do things their own way. In return, Åland got its own parliament and a whole lot of self-rule in various areas. It’s still part of Finland on the official map, but there’s a whole lot of Åland flavor mixed in.

Location and Accessibility

Nestled snugly where the Gulf of Bothnia meets the Baltic Sea, Åland is a treasure trove of over 6,000 islands. Fasta Åland’s the big shot here, playing home to 90% of the islanders. Just a hop, skip and a 38-kilometer ferry ride from Sweden, Åland is closely tied with Finland’s archipelago too. Its handy-dandy location makes it easy peasy to get to by boat or plane. Mariehamn, the buzzing capital, is the beating heart of Åland where people and goods are always on the move.

Linguistic and Cultural Identity

Åland’s vibe is all about that Swedish heritage—super proud about it too! Swedish reigns supreme as the one and only official language. In fact, about 95% of the locals chat in Swedish, leaving Finnish in the dust with less than 5% of the folks speaking it at home. Keeping that Swedish language and way of life intact is central to what makes Åland, well, Åland. The locals wear their cultural uniqueness like a badge of honor, marking a clear line between them and the mainland Finnish crowd.

Language	Percentage of Population
Swedish	≈95%
Finnish	<5%

To learn more about the countries and territories flanking Finland, you might wanna peek at some handy tidbits and fascinating facts. There’s a whole article diving into Estonia’s neighborhood and another one checking out who’s hanging out next to France. Also, if geographical quirks tickle your fancy, hop over to see what’s unique about Finland’s borders.

Border Issues

Russia-Finland Border Control

The line splitting Finland and Russia has grabbed loads of attention lately due to some tweaking in border control rules. Late 2023 saw Finland pulling the plug on all border crossings to deal with a sudden uptick in folks seeking refuge via Russia. Big names in border crossing, Vaalimaa and Nuijamaa, act as the main gateways for official crossings. But hold on, crossing here means you gotta have at least one visa in hand.

Back in the day, Finland was the champ when it came to dishing out Schengen visas to Russians. Rewind to 2015, and you’d see a whopping 9.1 million folks making their way across the Finland-Russia border, with half buzzing through spots like Vaalimaa and Nuijamaa.

Year	Total Crossings	Major Checkpoints	Visa Requirement
2015	9.1 million	Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa	At least 1 visa

Changes in Visa Regulations

With the Russo-Ukrainian conflict still churning, Finland switched gears on its visa rules. By 2023, tourist visas to Russians hit a standstill unless you fit into some special categories. This switch means less traffic at the border, though you’ll still spot a bunch crossing with visas from before 2019 or from other Schengen countries.

Here’s a quick peek at how visa rules have flipped over the years:

Year	Visa Policy for Russians	Number of Crossings
2011	Busiest year for Schengen visas	NA
2015	Regular tourist visas in play	9.1 million
2023	Tourist visas slammed shut; only limited categories allowed	Major dip

Current Border Disputes

With geopolitical headwinds swirling, Finland’s doubling down on border security. November 2023 witnessed a bold declaration—the Finnish Government decided to shut the doors on four crossings in southeast Finland starting November 18, 2023, expected to stay shut till April 14, 2024. So now, your only option? Raja-Jooseppi up in the Arctic Circle remains open for business.

For a closer look at the ups and downs of neighboring borders, you might wanna check out details on Germany’s neighboring countries and Greece’s neighboring countries.

Closure Date	Closed Crossings	Remaining Crossing	Closure Duration
November 18, 2023	Southeast Finland crossings	Raja-Jooseppi	Till April 14, 2024

These moves highlight the wild ride that is Finland’s border management and its dealings with Russia. For a broader look at border stories, take a gander at pieces on Georgia’s neighboring countries and Guinea’s neighboring countries.

Geographic Features

Finland’s geography is full of varied landscapes and borders featuring unique natural sights, shared bodies of water, and well-organized border crossings. These all have an important part in outlining the country’s connections with its neighbors.

Terrain and Natural Landmarks

Finland’s land is filled with thick forests, rolling hills, and untouched areas, much like its neighboring countries. A big chunk of the border with Russia—spanning 1,340 km (830 mi)—winds through the vast taiga forests. The borders Finland shares with Norway and Sweden come with their own set of natural wonders. You’ll find the Scandinavian Mountains and national parks aplenty.

Border	Length (km)	Main Terrain Features
Finland-Russia	1,340	Taiga woods, rural lands
Finland-Norway	736	Scandinavian peaks, tundra plains
Finland-Sweden	614	Woodlands, rivers, undulating hills

Shared Water Bodies

Finland and its neighbors also share a bunch of important water bodies. These waters play a key role in political relations and keeping the environment in check.

• Lake Inari: A major source of fresh water, shared with Norway.
• Lake Saimaa: While it’s all on Finland’s side, it’s part of the Vuoksi River basin flowing into Russia.
• Tornio River: Acts as the border with Sweden and encourages cross-border water partnerships.

Border Crossings and Controls

Finland keeps things tidy at its border crossings, especially with Russia.

Finland-Russia Border Crossings

Crossing the Finland-Russia border means going through tight controls and several official checkpoints. Back in 2015, 9.1 million folks passed through, proving its importance (Wikipedia). Some key crossing sites like Vaalimaa and Nuijamaa handle most of the hustle and bustle. Recent world events like the Russo-Ukrainian War have shaken up visa and border controls (Wikipedia).

Crossing Point	Main Use
Vaalimaa	Commercial and passenger flows
Nuijamaa	Passenger journeys
Raja-Jooseppi	Traffic around the Arctic regions

New rules have seen many crossings closed in southeast Finland, with Raja-Jooseppi staying open until mid-2024 (Wikipedia).

Hiking and Restricted Areas

To hike near Finland’s borders, especially along the Finland-Russia line, you must get special permission from the Finnish Border Guard. Stepping into these zones without it could land you in trouble, showcasing how protected these regions are (National Parks Finland).

If you’re curious about how other countries manage their borders and relationships, check out articles like germany neighbouring countries and france neighbouring countries.