Grense Jakobselv

Grense Jakobselv is a small village in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway.

It is located on the shore of the Barents Sea at the mouth of the Jakobselva river. It lies about 54 kilometres by road east of Kirkenes. The area was settled by Norwegians in 1851. The Jakobselva river forms the border with Russia, on the east side of Grense Jakobselv. It is a fascinating place for border enthusiasts and marks the point where the Norway – Russia border enters the Barents Sea.

The road is only open for part of the year and driving along it one is reminded of the isolation and the proximity to the Russian border.

There is a church, multiple land and maritime border markers and an isolated settlement to explore. The close presence of Russia with its border fortifications and matching border markers is a dramatic backdrop. I visited this point as part of the IBRG ARTEX-24 expedition.

The map is complex, with several land and maritime border markers. GRM = Border marker.

King Oscar II Chapel

King Oscar II Chapel is a parish church of the Church of Norway in Sør-Varanger Municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. It is located near the village of Grense Jakobselv, about 500 metres from the border with Russia. It is one of the churches for the Sør-Varanger parish which is part of the Varanger prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland. The stone church was built in a long church style in 1869 by the architect Jacob Wilhelm Nordan (1824–1892). The Lutheran church’s location solidified Norway’s claim to this area in much the same way the Russian Orthodox chapel in Boris Gleb that had been used for border demarcation in 1826. Unfortunately, the church was closed when we visited (although it should have been open).

Norwegian Observation Post overlooking the Church and Russia beyond.

In search of border markers

From the church it was possible to see several border markers, on both sides of the border. We headed across the fields to the nearest one.

The landscapes here were awesome. The estuary with Russia almost within touching distance, the huge skies and clear horizons. Every direction there appeared to be a border marker to spot.

There are 6 border markers in this photo can you spot them all?

Only 2 border markers here. Easier to spot.

BM #390

Norwegian marker with the OP in the background

The Russian pair – note the Russian border fence in the background.

BM # 391

BM #392

Looking towards Russia, with the 1826 Norwegian Cairn, and BM’s 393 and 393 visible. The Russian border fencing begins here.

BM # 393

The Estuary

For me the estuary was the most interesting place, not only for it’s proximity to Russia but because of it’s setting and views.

NO Maritime marker (BM 396/1). with RU BM #391 in the background.

Not sure what this is on RU side of the border.

NO Maritime marker (BM 396/1). Old Norwegian Cairn now in Russia.

More border markers

Making friends

The Norwegian Russian border has a high level of surveillance. Although we had not done anything wrong, we were is a sensitive area for an extended period which meant we had a friendly chat with the local border control soldiers who had been directed to our location by the Norwegian OP on the hill.

The village

Heading further north we reach the scattered settlement, there is little here and maybe that’s the point. A real get away from it all place. The road closes in October and the only way in is by specialised transport. It was a wonderful place to have lunch and watch mad Finnish people swim in the 2 degrees C water.