After World War II, Poland's borders shifted westward, while Lithuania and Belarus became Soviet republics. Nowadays boundaries around the tripoint largely took shape during this period as an internal border between the Lithuanian SSR and the Byelorussian SSR, and an external border with Poland. The border between these Soviet Republics was not marked.
This tripoint however became an international meeting point of three sovereign states after:
- Poland regained full sovereignty after the fall of communism;
- Lithuania declared independence in 1990 and was internationally recognized in 1991;
- Belarus became independent in 1991 (at least on paper) following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Unlike the other tripoints along the former Soviet Union outer border are marked by a large monument, the Lithuania-Poland-Belarus tripoint is relatively remote and is identified only through three border markers.
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Map of the area The Open Street map gives a good overview. Poland on the left. The Mara River devides Lithuania from Poland and Belarus. The border between Poland and Belarus ends in a straight line in the Mara. On Lithuanian side the old inspection road which runs about 600 meter from the border is visible. It ends at the river and it continues in Belarus. Before 1990 this was an ininterupted road, only accesible for border inspection. In Lithuania this road has no more value but in Belarus the area between the road and the State Border is not accessible. Except for refugees from all over the world who are supported and guided by the Belarusian authorities to the border to find a way to the EU through the fences or -even worse- by digging a tunnel. |
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Lithuanian and Polish map The modern Lithuanian map contains the numbers of the border markers. Notice border marker 0003 between LT and BY where the old inspection road ends. Also notice the incorrect line between Poland and Belarus. The second map is the Polish map which is obsolete. It still mentions the old numbering of the markers. 1788 is replaced by 673, 1789 no longer exists and 1790 is now PL-LT 001.
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Belarusian map The Belrausian map is not very detailed but when you zoom in you see the inspection roads. There are lots of them. They also indicate the border markers with Lithuania with red squares, for example number 0003. There you also see the continuation of the former inspection road in Lithuania. |
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Detailed map of the area From Belarusian side the tripoint in the water is not accessible. From Polish side, I don't know at the moment. In the past (2015) it was but I think now (2026) entrance of the area is prohibited as the whole border area with Belarus which is equiped with massive fences is a no go zone. From Lithuanian side however some sand roads bring you close to the tripoint although nasty barbed wire stops you at about 40 meter from the water. |
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Three border markers 1789 This picture was taken in 2003 after the independency. The old Sovjet green-red marker is already replaced by a Belarusian marker with own coat of arms. The Polish copy is the original concrete one, without the polyester cover. And the Lithuanian one is already there. Before the independency of Lithuania, I assume there were only the Soviet and the Polish marker close to the river as internal borders were not marked. Notice the short distance between the PL and BY border marker, which was usual on a normal border stretch. A big white monlith in the middle is missing. The other side of th water is Lithuania. I found this picture made by Bogusław Tomaszewski on the Polish website www.muzeumsg.strazgraniczna.pl |
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Three border markers 1789 Same situation from Lithuanian side. I think this Lithuanian marker is an old repainted Soviet marker: although the tripoint with the Lithuanian SSR wasn't worth placing an extra border marker, the fact that the border changes from land to river is a reason to place an extra marker at the opposite bank. Author of the picture: Valentinas Novikovas. |
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Border marker 1789 solo Barry Arnold found this marker in 2009. Quite rare, the LT marker was new but still contained the old Soviet-times number 1789. |
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Border marker 1789 solo Also quite rare is this picture (same Barry, same 2009) of the backside of the LT marker. Notice that the PL and BY markers are removed. Just open space. On the background you see on the hill the pair 1788 with the big monolith. |
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2015 In 2015 I visited the place, not knowing Barry had been there as well but all border freaks take independently the same pictures. The LT marker was still there, but the number disappeaded and was now replaced by MARA. On the background new markers in PL and BY. Very far from each other. On the background you see the pair 1788 (now renumbered to 673). It looks like they excavated the hill, it's now more flat and the stairs on Belarusian side are removed. No fences. Just a sand strip between PL and BY and the rivers as natrual border between LT and BY. Not even CCTV in 2015. |
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Border marker PL The new Polish monument marker MARYCHA on a different spot as the old 1789. |
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Belarusian Marker Contains "Марыха", the Belarusian name of the Mara river. It's on a different spot as well, not so close to the river and not so close to the Polish marker. |
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Ten years after... I returned in May 2026. Fences, barebed wire, cameras. Not the nice place it used to be. |
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