Norwegians wants to give Finland a mountain as a gift

[Borgholio]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/europe/no ... d=19704455

This may be the pinnacle of gift-giving.

Some people in Norway are mounting a campaign to give part of a mountain to their vertically challenged neighbor, Finland, to mark the 100-year anniversary of Finnish independence in 2017.

The Norwegians have taken pity on Finland, which has no high mountains.

The Halditcohkka peak of the Halti mountain, at only 4,366 feet, is outside of Norway's top 200 highest points, but it could become the highest point in Finland.

The proposal suggests adding a triangle to the border between the two countries, by drawing a line just 656 feet north and 492 feet to the east of the current line.
CNN Map
Halti mountain
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

The Facebook campaign has more than 5,400 likes.

"We have a lot of mountains, and this is just a small mountaintop," said Sondre Lund, a Norwegian student who set up the page.

"It's such a small thing, but such a big thing also. All the Nordic countries have great relations, this is just a part of that."

Lund set up the page after reading about the scheme -- originally dreamed up by Bjørn Geirr Harsson. A retired employee of the Norwegian Mapping Authority, Harsson thought of the plan in 1972 when he was taking border measurements.

"I was taken aback by why on earth (Finland) had not received this peak," Harsson told the Norweigian English language newspaper, The Local.

"It would barely be noticeable (for Norway). And I'm sure the Finns would greatly appreciate getting it."

He seems to be on to something. The reaction from Finns has been overwhelmingly positive.

Jiri Keronen from Finland posted: "Thank you very much. It would be nice to have a mountain. Norway is the best and we love you."

But will this actually happen?

The head of the Norwegian Mapping Authority, Cathrine Frøstrup, has already expressed support for the donation of the snow-covered mountain peak.

"I must say that I think it's a very good idea," she told local broadcaster NRK.

"It is a nice gift to give to a country that lacks a high mountain, where the highest point isn't even a peak."

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a CNN request for a comment on the idea.

[Edi]

Yeah, from our point of view, this has come pretty much out of the left field, but it is very much appreciated. Halti is the highest fell in Finland and it's right on the border between Finland and Norway.

[Iroscato]

See why can't every country be this cute towards each other? I'd totally ship Norway and Finland now

[Rogue 9]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/18/europe/no ... d=19704455

This may be the pinnacle of gift-giving.

I dunno, there's a lot to top there. General Sherman, for instance, to Abraham Lincoln in 1864; “I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton.”

[Simon_Jester]

I look forward to seeing a Scandinavia and the World comic about this.

[LadyTevar]

I look forward to seeing a Scandinavia and the World comic about this.

JINX! I was thinging the exact same thing!!

Now, other than the way maps would have to be modified (by 20m, I think it said?), what other drawbacks could there be to stop this from happening?

[General Zod]

Some sort of mineral rights dispute comes to mind.

[LadyTevar]

Does the mountain in question have Mineral Rights?

[General Zod]

No idea.

[Lord Revan]

not that I know of granted there's loads of land in Lapland that's simply not been charted for minerals or such.

[Broomstick]

Hmmm.... makes me think of how the Russians sold Alaska to the US at rock-bottom prices in part because they had no clue that there was anything useful there beyond some fish and furs...

[Lord Revan]

Hmmm.... makes me think of how the Russians sold Alaska to the US at rock-bottom prices in part because they had no clue that there was anything useful there beyond some fish and furs...

true but the Nordic countries have alot closer relationship then USA and Russia ever had. This geografical formation is also partly within the finnish territory (it's right on the border) so if there was any major disputes going to happen about it, they happen regardless of any border changes.

EDIT: IIRC the relationship between USA and the Russian Empire was not that warm though not ouright hostile. While even during the Grand Dutchy era the Nordic relationships were quite friendly (including Finns being able to travel thru sweden to be trained in Imperial Germany, this Jäger corp in fact formed the core of the finnish army after independence).

[LadyTevar]

If I read the story correctly, the majority of the mountain is in Finland, but the mountain peak itself isn't. In theory, any minerals would be mostly Finnish, as the mountain slopes are all in their boundary. The chances of the mountain peak (20m away) having anything extra is slim.

So, again... what drawbacks are there to moving the border 20m West? Are there any towns that would be affected? Would it cause problems further away from the mountain if the border took a jag at that point?

[Lord Revan]

Probably not parts of Finland that border Norway are at Northen Lapland that's mostly essentially barren tundra, that along with the good relationship within the Nordic countries makes unlikely that is would cause any issues (except with Russia but then Finland existing causes issues with Russia as they'd want Finland and its people to themselves).

[LaCroix]

Some sort of mineral rights dispute comes to mind.

Norway is practically swimming in minerals and oil... The slight shift of 20m will not really change that - the whole ceded volume is probably less than a weeks worth of drilling, IF anything is to be found there.

[Edi]

Some sort of mineral rights dispute comes to mind.

Norway is practically swimming in minerals and oil... The slight shift of 20m will not really change that - the whole ceded volume is probably less than a weeks worth of drilling, IF anything is to be found there.

That, and we would hardly turn the new highest peak in Finland to a mining zone to begin with.

[Terralthra]

Kind of ruins the point of the gift if you then mine the shit out of it, no?

[Lord Revan]

Kind of ruins the point of the gift if you then mine the shit out of it, no?

true and it would be Finland's first and only true mountain so there's value to it besides just the raw materials you could get from it

[cmdrjones]

See why can't every country be this cute towards each other? I'd totally ship Norway and Finland now

Hey Most of the middle east is shipping thier surplus population to Europe right now, shouldn't that be worthy of celebration more than just a pile of rock?

[Iroscato]

See why can't every country be this cute towards each other? I'd totally ship Norway and Finland now

Hey Most of the middle east is shipping thier surplus population to Europe right now, shouldn't that be worthy of celebration more than just a pile of rock?

*Slow clap*

[Alyrium Denryle]

See why can't every country be this cute towards each other? I'd totally ship Norway and Finland now

Hey Most of the middle east is shipping thier surplus population to Europe right now, shouldn't that be worthy of celebration more than just a pile of rock?

Protip: They are talking about slash fanfic between countries. See here as done between Denmark/Norway (which is more of bromance), and Sweden/Åland (and lets not forget Wales/New Zealand) It is mega cute.

http://satwcomic.com/bedtime-drama

http://satwcomic.com/just-another-morning

http://satwcomic.com/dinner-partner

And this... is just not safe for work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Hndsyfn6M

[Edi]

Mexico tangent split to HoS because people didn't seem to get it even after Thanas said to take it elsewhere.

[cmdrjones]

See why can't every country be this cute towards each other? I'd totally ship Norway and Finland now

Hey Most of the middle east is shipping thier surplus population to Europe right now, shouldn't that be worthy of celebration more than just a pile of rock?

Protip: They are talking about slash fanfic between countries. See here as done between Denmark/Norway (which is more of bromance), and Sweden/Åland (and lets not forget Wales/New Zealand) It is mega cute.

http://satwcomic.com/bedtime-drama

http://satwcomic.com/just-another-morning

http://satwcomic.com/dinner-partner

And this... is just not safe for work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Hndsyfn6M

Do they have Sweden getting raped in a three way by Syria and Somalia yet?

[Iroscato]

Hey Most of the middle east is shipping thier surplus population to Europe right now, shouldn't that be worthy of celebration more than just a pile of rock?

Protip: They are talking about slash fanfic between countries. See here as done between Denmark/Norway (which is more of bromance), and Sweden/Åland (and lets not forget Wales/New Zealand) It is mega cute.

http://satwcomic.com/bedtime-drama

http://satwcomic.com/just-another-morning

http://satwcomic.com/dinner-partner

And this... is just not safe for work

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Hndsyfn6M

Do they have Sweden getting raped in a three way by Syria and Somalia yet?

Thank you for the terrifying glimpse into your wank-bank.

[jwl]

I'm not sure if I would necessarily welcome this if I was Finnish. I mean, it would be nice to have more mountains, but in the short term having the largest mountain in the country actually being a gift from another one might feel a bit rubbish really.

Still, it sounds kind of novel and fun so I support if from afar.