We Walked To Finland From Sweden! | World's Northernmost IKEA Store | Nordic Border Crossing

We've spent a good bit of time in northern Sweden, so now it's time to head into Finland. But before we leave this awesome country, we had to visit the world's northernmost IKEA!
It's in a border town called Haparanda Tornio, a twin city shared by both Sweden and Finland. We literally walked from Sweden into Finland! Everything about this place is super cool, you’ve got to check it out!
#sweden #finland #vlog #walking #ikea #nordic

[@Sakutora]

Cool to see the place I mostly grew up in again, haven't been there in maybe a year or so.

[@MusaFinderi]

Tornio is my hometown but they really are a twincity. That part of Sweden up to Kalix used to belong to Finland, where most speak Finnish and location names are Finnish also. The rivervalley region history goes way back before Tornio's eligible town status (which is one of the oldest towns) and is really more about people and shared language and culture than a state.

[@user-dc2kj3xf1g]

The two towns share the IKEA

[@LiraNeo2023]

Yeah, it's one of a kind!

[@just42tube]

You didn't notice the big border?? It's the river itself, the deepest part of it. The border agreement between Finland and Sweden is largely based on this, with some additional details. River beds can change over longer periods. There is periodic checking and adjustments are done to the official maps in each 25 years or so. There is also an agreement of the management and use of the border river between these two countries.

[@LiraNeo2023]

Oh thanks for the info. I did notice the river, guess I was referring to the border sign -- couldn't find one while crossing to Finland. I really think it's good example in terms of creating a smooth border crossing experience. I'm sure you barely notice the border there if you live in one of these towns.

[@just42tube]

@@LiraNeo2023 Actually people are so aware of the border that using signs wouldn't add anything for locals. They take benefit of the situation, where different sides of the river have different currency, taxation and other economic and regulatory differences creating price differences. They know what to shop and from where. Pricing is often different depending on the situation. They can also work on either side of the river meaning in either or both countries.

[@just42tube]

They don't necessarily speak different languages. In that region people speak Finnic and North Germanic languages on both sides. Swedish is the only official language in Sweden, but in the north Samé and Meänkieli are old Finnic languages. You could also say, and previously it was done, that Meänkieli is the local dialect of Finnish. On the Finland side Swedish is the second official language. People and their languages have never been actually separated from each other in this region.

[@LiraNeo2023]

Hey thanks for explaining this! I was vaguely aware how people were multilingual while visiting. It's really helpful to know the details. Fascinating!

[@just42tube]

@@LiraNeo2023 In addition to beginning multilingual there are old populations who have other native languages than the official languages of Sweden or Finland. At school everyone studies at least official languages and perhaps their own native language too, if it is different. In addition,. foreign languages are also taught at school starting from first class. Usually it's English, but not always. Later just about everyone starts studies in one or two additional foreign languages. So, having studied and having some skills in 4 languages is common. Being fully bilingual or having learned two languages at home from parents and friends is also fairly common.

[@filinriyaka]

Very weird sensation.. but it might be really interesting to be in such a place. Limit is in our mind 🥴

[@LiraNeo2023]

Exactly, it makes you think about the space we occupy, the time we live in, etc.

[@hansericsson7058]

Borders are just lines on a map and i hope we can keep on having the open borders in EU so you can go anywere work anywere and live anywere. I think its good for both people and the economy. Thanks for a nice vlog from my home country Sweden.

[@LiraNeo2023]

Totally agreed! The European Union is an amazing thing, crossing an internal border here is such a great experience, and we are definitely spoiled by that. Sweden is great! It's such a lovely place to visit. Really glad you enjoyed the video.

[@just42tube]

Peaceful borders are lines on a map. Sometimes these maps are based on agreements, which use natural formations like rivers to be the source of defining where the border is. In this case the river itself is part of the definition. So in that perspective there is more than just a border agreement and attached map with lines. But as abstractions countries and national borders are almost completely just human cultural inventions.

[@o0131]

unfortunately not possible because of immigration/refugees

[@just42tube]

@@o0131 The video was from a region where people have lived before modern times, before Sweden and Finland. These people have had this part of the 🌎 before national boarders. Immigration is here just an artificial administrative name for people moving around in their home region.

[@o0131]

@@just42tube with open borders we would become sweden 2.0, no thank you

[@moonliteX]

"most unique IKEA" .. is there such a thing 🤣