Finnish:Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki, Northern Sami:Golmma riikka urna, Norwegian:Treriksrøysa, Swedish:Treriksröset | |
The cairn in 2014
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Coordinates | 69°03′35.9″N 20°32′55.1″E / 69.059972°N 20.548639°ECoordinates: 69°03′35.9″N 20°32′55.1″E / 69.059972°N 20.548639°E |
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Material | Concrete frustum |
Completion date | 1926 |
Dedicated to | Marking the tripoint of the borders of Norway, Sweden and Finland |
Three-Country Cairn (Finnish: Kolmen valtakunnan rajapyykki, Northern Sami: Golmma riikka urna, Norwegian: Treriksrøysa, Swedish: Treriksröset) is the point at which the international borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland meet, and the name of the monument that marks the point. It is an example of a geographical feature known as a tripoint.
A monument of stones was erected on the site in 1897 by the governments of Norway and Russia (which was administering Finland at the time). The Swedish could not agree on a boundary commission with the Norwegians and did not contribute their stone until 1901. This is Sweden's most northerly point and it is the westernmost point of the Finnish mainland (the most westerly point of Finland is on the island Märket).
The current tripoint monument was built in 1926 and is a beige, conical frustum made of concrete, located about 10 metres (33 ft) out in Lake Goldajärvi (also known as Lake Koltajauri). It is located at 489 metres (1,604 ft) above sea level. The size is about 14 square metres (150 sq ft) with diameter of about 4 metres (13 ft). As an artificial island, it is sometimes mentioned as the world's smallest island divided by a border. This is a matter of definition. For example, in Haparanda/Tornio there are poles in water marking the border.
It may be reached by walking 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Kilpisjärvi in Finland on a public road. In summertime, it can be reached by boat from Kilpisjärvi plus a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) walk.