Värska Area The start of this Baltic Border Tour. After driving 275 kilometers from Tallin Airport, I arrived in the late afternoon in this area. I think this is the highest point of the land border between Estonia and Russia. Between Värska and Popovitsa, the most north point, I saw some tourist hotels and a sanatorium. You would not expect this here. The border between Estonia and Russia is only demarcated on Russian side. The real border is not agreed on yet, so there is only a temporary border here. I read however there are plans to make the border more visible, the open space wider. The Estonian governement also started to mark the border to avoid situations like happened September 2014 when Eston Kohver was arrested by Russians, being accused of spying. Basis is the border agreement of 1920, but after that there were some changes. I don't know any details.

	Piirkantor Värska Some kilometers from the landborder Estonia - Russia I saw the first office of the Border Guard Cordon. They are never far away. One of the very few cars that I saw in this area was also a green MPV of them.
	Old land house Popovitsa A sandy road led to Popovitsa, where you can find about 5 houses. I stopped about 100 meter from the border at an old house. The gate on the picture has nothing to do with the border. It says Era maa which means 'private ground'. A man came out of the door and saw me with my camera. He only spoke Estonian and Russian but he understood that I came for the border. He was very friendly and joined me.
	Towards the border It was only a small distance between his house and the border. He told that this ground until the border belongs to him. So when you visit this place to see the border, it's recommended to meet him first. Don't be afraid, he is very friendly and polite.
	Border pole 538 with strip First we went to the last border pole 538. Here the land ends and the swamp with reed and the Värska lake starts. The sand strip goes in a circle around the border pole.
	Border pole 538 As you see, there is only a Russian pole. It's made of stone, it looks rather old. I wonder what the pin on the top is for. Maybe it's to avoid that birds sit on it and pollute the Russian shield.
	Narrow sandstrip The strip is rather narrow here, not more than two meters. No fence, no Estonian border marker.
	Border pole 537 This one is located near the end of the road in Popovitsa near the house and the fence of the man I met. Here is an extra strip. Not clear to me why.
	Borderpole 536 Then we went a bit more south and we found 536. After that we went back. Later I thought it would have been good to walk a bit further to the south-east. Maybe there were one or two more border markers between the Värska Lake and swamp that isolates Dukbi from Russia. But I didn't and went back to the car. Just after leaving this area and driving away a green partol car of the Värska Cordon was arriving on the sand road. Although I didn't expect troubles, I was glad he didn't come some minutes earlier.
	Borderpole 499 Now I went to the little village Kostkova, only 15 minutes driving from Popovitsa. I parked my car about 400 meters from the border. A muddy road led to the border. Similar situation as I had seen. A narrow open border zone, a small but well maintained strip and only Russian borderpoles.
	Desolated house A few meters from the border between 499 and 498 I found this desolated house. I think it was inhabited until the separation from Russia. The house is now in Estonia, the shed on the left is in Russia. I saw some more abandoned houses on Russian soil nearby.
	Going south The nice maintained strip. It's actually too narrow to look like a real border between the EU and Russia! But it is.
	Border pole 498 I went down to 498 You can hardly recognise an inspection road here, it's a bit muddy. Chopped trees and branches on the border area make it not very clear to perceive the border line.
	Border pole 497 I continued to 497. There is some open space here.
	Border pole 496 I finished at 496. Here the border makes a 90 degree angle. On the Estonian side there was a small road leading to a luxury house at 50 meters from the border. I finished here and then went to Lutepaa. Next page >>

Estonia-Russia I

EE-RU II

EE-RU III

EE-RU IV

EE-RU V

EE-RU-LV

LV-RU I

LV-RU II

LV-RU III

LV-RU IV

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