Visitors gather at Finland’s closed eastern border crossings

Finnish and foreign tourists have made weekly visits to the country’s closed eastern border crossings at Imatra and Vaalimaa, drawn by curiosity rather than travel.

According to Antti Virta, deputy commander of the Southeast Finland Border Guard, the brief stops are prompted by curiosity about the sealed border rather than any intention to cross.

“We see Finnish citizens and Central Europeans making these visits,” Virta said. “They take photos, then leave.”

Border patrols monitor the areas primarily to observe who is present, as the closed crossing roads fall under routine surveillance.

At Vaalimaa, concrete barriers and fencing block the road to the former border station. At Imatra, the route is closed well before the station itself, forcing drivers to turn back toward the town centre.

Riikka Anttila, visiting from Nivala with her family, said she knew the border was closed but drove to see the sealed road. “It looks bleak,” she said.

American visitor Jason Blom, on his first trip to Finland, said he wanted to see the border after arriving in Kotka. Blom, who has previously visited Russia and other parts of Europe, said the trip was motivated by simple curiosity.

Border authorities also watch for vehicles registered abroad or rented within Finland that may approach the restricted zones.