Hopes dashed on the Finnish-Russian border News
| BORDERS

Hopes dashed on the Finnish-Russian border

May 26, 2022 “Parikkala is a municipality people usually drive right past,” says Mayor Vesa Huuskonen, with only a hint of humour. Parikkala is an agricultural municipality with an ageing population in South-Western Finland, right on the border with Russia. Plans for an international border crossing have been scrapped because of the changed international situation.
Border trade crisis: Zsar's luxury fashion tempts neither Russians nor Finns in Vaalimaa News
| BORDERS

Border trade crisis: Zsar's luxury fashion tempts neither Russians nor Finns in Vaalimaa

May 26, 2022 Some of the shops in Zsar Outlet Village are having closing down sales. Most offer 30 to 70% discounts on well-known brands meant to tempt Russian tourists to shop right next to the border crossing with Finland.
Parikkala goes for maids, whitefish and an unusual sculpture park News
| BORDERS

Parikkala goes for maids, whitefish and an unusual sculpture park

May 26, 2022 There is an old saying that "the maids from Parikkala and the whitefish from Simpeljärvi are better than anywhere else". The maid is now a sculpture in the city centre while the whitefish is swimming in the lake. But a sculpture park with 255 concrete statues doing yoga is by far the biggest draw.