Kalmasaari Explained

Kalmasaari
Location:Vuokkijärvi
Coordinates:64.649°N 30.1358°W
Area Km2:0.0115
Length Km:0.22
Width Km:0.08
Country Admin Divisions Title:Province
Country Admin Divisions:Kainuu
Country1 Admin Divisions Title:Federation subject
Country1 Admin Divisions:Republic of Karelia
Population:0

Kalmasaari (also Kalmosaari, Russian: Раясаари) is an island in the lake Vuokkijärvi in Karelia. It is divided by the border between Russia and Finland. The island is located in the areas of Suomussalmi (Finland) and Kostomuksha (Russia). On both sides, it is part of the border zone and is off-limits to the general public.[1]

Kalmasaari was used as a cemetery by the Eastern Orthodox villages of Kuivajärvi, Hietajärvi and Vuokinsalmi until 1922 when the Finland–Russia border was determined. A new cemetery was established to the Kalmisaari island of lake Kuivajärvi, 4 kilometres west of Kalmasaari.[1]

The Russian name of Kalmasaari is ″Раясаари″, which is a transliterated version of Finnish word ″Rajasaari″ meaning ″Border Island″.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kalmasaari . Finnish Heritage Agency . 28 May 2015 . fi . 11 November 2022.
  2. Web site: Остров Раясаари . Wikimapia . ru . 11 November 2022.