ABSTRACT
Border twins are rarely equal; there is often differentiation caused both by the area's specific history and influences from each territorial state. The Baltic Sea Region has undergone fundamental geopolitical changes since territorial states emerged in Northern Europe c. 1000 years ago. This borderland is mainly lowland, forest and farmland divided by the Torne and two tributaries. Both populations were mainly Finnish speaking, with a Sámi minority in the north. The chapter analyses three such towns: Tornio–Haparanda, Narva–Ivangorod and Valga–Valka. Tornio–Haparanda's relative remoteness and smallness has incentivised common efforts to make the agglomeration a joint centre, utilizing legal and cultural differences and combating hindrances. Initiatives have sometimes been taken to develop the Narva–Ivangorod area for tourism; the area is extremely rich in historical monuments and has breath-taking scenery. Valga–Valka lies in a shallow valley, where the small river Pedeli/Pedele flows from Latvia into Estonia, crossing the boundary almost at right angles.
