The members of the Finnish and Norwegian border commissions met in Ivalo, and from there they continued to the border area in Kaldoaivi and Vätsäri to complete the final inspection of work in the terrain. The joint review of the state boundary between the two countries has been completed in a systematic way that both parties have agreed to, and it includes checking and repairing border markers, surveying, and maintenance work in the border area. Data from the review of the state boundary will be collected in digital form that can be updated before the next review of the state boundary, if necessary.
‘Our joint operations model has ensured that the documentation is uniform and that information exchange of spatial data will be possible between the two countries. For this new digital model, we used a data model produced during the review of the state border between Sweden and Norway as an example, demonstrating that sharing best practices across the Nordic countries works well. The National Land Survey of Finland and the Norwegian Kartverket will ensure that the surveyors of the next generation will have access to the data and can continue the work in the 2050s’, says Head of Cartography Jyrki Lämsä from the National Land Survey.
We take good care of our national border
The national border between Finland and Norway is 736 kilometers long. When the review of the state boundary ended, all 209 border markers had been checked, maintained and documented. They were easy to see in the terrain and if necessary, the Finnish Border Guard will maintain the border area between reviews of the state boundary.
‘Through cooperation with authorities in neighbouring countries we maintain stability in and a situational awareness of our border area. In the current geopolitical situation, this kind of cooperation also helps to strengthen relationships between countries that share a border and increase the population’s understanding of why it is so important to ensure that the border has been unambiguously surveyed and documented,’ says Brigadier General Mika Rytkönen from the Finnish Border Guard.
The review of the state boundary documentation will be handed over in early autumn to representatives from the Foreign Ministries of Finland and Norway. In due course, the Parliaments in each country will approve the documentation and finally the data will be transferred to map products and services provided by the National Land Survey and Kartverket.
‘The national land border is not moved in any direction during the review of the state boundary. In the Teno (Tana in Norwegian, Deatnu in Northern Saami) river the border between Finland and Norway is determined by nature because the border runs in the deep channel, which is moved by natural forces as the years pass. Nature can move the channel slightly, and we measure where it goes on the map,’ says Director-General Pasi Patrikainen from the National Land Survey. Small changes to the state boundary that runs in the channel do not affect the lives of boatsmen or entrepreneurs who use the river.
What is the review of the state boundary all about?
Carried out every 25 years, the review of the state boundary is a significant part of close relations between neighbours. During the review, the condition of the border area and border markers is inspected. The Finnish and Norwegian border commissions carry out their activities under national ministries for foreign affairs, and their results will be documented for use by the ministries.
The National Land Survey participates in the review of the state boundary by adopting an operative role. In practice, employees participate in surveying and other work in the terrain, documentation and communication. The Finnish Border Guard takes care of maintenance, including the repair of any border markers that have collapsed or are in need of new paint, and the arrangement of transport to the border area.
Finland is preparing for the next review of the state boundary with Sweden, the last one started nearly 20 years ago.
More information
Head of Cartography Jyrki Lämsä, phone +358 40 524 2508, firstname.lastname@nls.fi