Estonia's Crazy Border Situation - 100th Birthday 

When Estonia and Latvia got independent, the island of Ruhnu, populated by Swedes until 1944, tried to join Sweden, but as Sweden refused, saying they are unable to defend it, Ruhnu had a referendum to choose between Estonia and Latvia. Estonia was chosen, as they were fishermen and seal-hunters, and these areas were north from the island, so if joining Latvia they'd lose access to these waters. But, they succeeded to trade some special rights from Estonian government as well, for example, their guys didn't have to leave their island for joining the army service, but they spent it home as borderguards. The reason why Russia has Dubki enclave should be explained telling the background story as well. In the first half of 13th century, the territory of Estonia was invaded by the German crusaders, Danes, Swedes and Russians the same time. That was too much, even when Estonians succeeded to knock out the Swedes, and had some balance in fighting with the Russians, like burning the town of Pskov in counter-attack. Finally, most of the Estonia was conquered and divided by the Danes and German crusaders, but the southeastern corner went under Russia. So, unlike other Estonians, who became Catholic, and later Lutherans, Estonians living there, nowadays called the Seto people, became Orthodox. Their area became partly Russified, especially after the Monastery of Pechory (Est. Petseri) was built in the heart of their area. Their attempts to rejoin Estonia in the beginning of 20th century (when Estonia was governed by Russia as well) were not recognized by the Russian government, so it happened as a result of the Estonian War of Independence. The area united with Estonia had Seto (Estonian) majority in Northwest, Russian majority in Southeast, and very mixed population in the middle. Estonia draw new borders for the local governments there, trying to make them as monoethnic as possible. Therefore, the ethnic Russian village of Dubki, surrounded by Seto villages, was included into the closest ethnic Russian local government (Kalda). When Soviet Union reoccupied Estonia in 1944, they redraw the borders, annexing all the ethnic Russian villages, as well as the area with mixed population. For strategic reason, they also annexed all the purely Seto villages south from the railroad, and for annexing some Seto areas, the reason can hardly been seen at all (like the area with villages of Jaastrova, Põrste etc - even the road what is there today didn't exist back then). So, as a result, about 60% of ethnic Seto villages remained in Estonia, and about 40% were annexed by Russia. As most of the Setos living there emigrated to Estonia later, today this area is almost totally Russified. And, as the only town in the area, Petseri (Pechory) was annexed by Russia as well, the Estonian side has faced depopulation as well, and from the Seto people, once about 15'000 strong, less than 4'000 are still living in their historic lands. So, when Russia was eager to follow the border once drawn to keep a single Russian village, Dubki, in ethnic Russian local government, in case of the Seto villages, they were simply overrun. About the "Saatse saabas" ("Saatse boot") the Setos told a story that when the border was drawn, some Communist Party boss from Petseri town (what went under Russia as well) had a summer house there, so he asked to draw the border that way. Don't know if that story is actually correct.

Estonian islands are strategically placed there to save drifting Latvian ice fishers. Happy Birthday brothers.

The story of Ruhnu is quite different than explained in this video. It became part of Estonia already in 1919 - almost after the declaration of independence. It had been inhabited by coastal swedes for centuries. Since the island is so isolated, they found out about the end of the war and the new republics of Latvia & Estonia only a year or so later. Both new nations were interested in the island, so they started negotiating. Legend says that Latvia offered lot of promises but estonians cut straight to the point, and went there with money and all sorts of goods. So they chose to be part of the Estoian republic. Also probably because there were more coastal swedes in other parts of Estonia. So it was until 1944. The swedes made a deal with the estonian people of Kihnu (the other island nearby) that in case of a soviet invasion, they would leave the farms to the Kihnu people. They flew to Sweden practically overnight. So it was until 1969, when a huge storm destroyed almost all the island and almost everybody relocated. After slowly pepole started to come back - today there are some 100 people living there and also some swede descendants have come back. So there is no real dispute between Latvia and Estonia about Ruhnu for almost 100 years. It's brought up mostly in a joking way, since Estonia has a lot of islands and Latvia none. Similar story goes for the city of Valga. It was split again already after WWI, not after the dissolution of the USSR, as hinted here. Valga was an important railway junction and a strategic town. Estonia and Latvia couldn't agree on ownership, so a compromise came to be - the town was divided in half.

We had to give those islands you mentioned in the end of the border part to Russia for the same reasons we lost Karelia, Petsamo etc.

You should've mentioned that they are planning to build the world's longest railway tunnel between Tallinn and Helsinki

What a subtle Logan Paul joke

Tere eestlased, tere Soomest! Palju õnne Eesti vabariik, kui see on nüüd tänavusel aastal 100a vana!

Happy birthday from Finland, your nordic brother!

I like the quick mention of the underwater prison. Last summer I visited Estonia because of this techno music festival at the Rummu quarry called Into The Valley. It's an old limestone quarry with a massive abandoned prison next to it, which is partly submerged in the crystal clear water. Needless to say the festival was amazing!

This channel should be renamed to ibxeducationcat

im a simple Latvian... i see something about my slow brothers, i like!

Ilusat Eesti Vabariigi aastapäeva! and happy birthday to other Baltic states!

You said Russia "isn't quite 100 times as large as Estonia geographically", but it's actually almost 400 times as large :)

Long live Estonia!

I get pretty upset when Scandinavians don't recognise Estonia as fellow Nordic brothers and sisters. I mean, off course Estonia herself needs to decide where she identify with, but their history, culture, language certainly brings them very close to the Nordic. I for one, as a Norwegian, support a full membership of the Nordic Council for Estonia. We made the Council during the Soviet times, so perhaps it's odd for many people to think of former Soviet territory as Nordic, but as time goes I think more and more people will realise we belong together. Happy birthday Estonia.

All you have done is make me want to work at that McDonald's

Wow Estonian Nordic Flag is fabulous!

(5:35) White sign with red border and black symbol tells you what you can't do (or the maximum for a given value). Blue sign with white border and white symbol tells you what you have to do (or the minimum for a given value).

LATVIA : The forgotten Baltic brother that is in the middle of Lithuania and Estonia but everyone ignores it! :(

You're so close to 50k! you deserve every last subscriber!

St Petersburg was built on the ancient Finnish(Karelian) sacred soil!

I was in a mountain bike marathon and the route crossed Latvian-Estonian border like 7 times within 50 kilometers.

Thanks for the video and birthday shoutout!

yes someone (who isnt estonia or baltic or finland) noticed estonians 100th birthday

Islands in Gulf of Finland used belong to Finland, but lost them after WW2.

I always have a great time with your videos. You speak off script, and bubble over with enthusiasm on the subject of geography. They burst with trivia, and you deliver all of this free of cynicism or mocking. Keep up the good work. Your channel is a great relaxing place for some minutes of facts and fun. Btw Norwegian here living in Chicago. My first name is pronounced Canute.

Lithuania could of got a shout out aswell for turning 100 years old

ONE DAY BEFORE NUMBER 102 BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY ESTONIA I LOVE U

Will you make a video about Czechia and Slovakia when Czechoslovakia will have 100th Birthday?

It´s not too long ago that the Latvians got to use the railwaystation in Valga for their trains, before that they had to take a bus some five kilometres out in the forrest to get onboard a train. There is a talk going on linking Estonia even closer to the nordic countries via a tunnel from Helsinki.

Please do a video about Tadjikistan's border

Happy birthday dude! You didnt seem 99 years old at first but now you definetly look 100

Could we do an empire video like polish/Lithuania or Swedish empire

Thx Ibx2cat Im from Estonia and I just love your videos thanks for making a Estonia episode

Hey! Where's video about Lithuania? We celebrated our 100 years anniversary a week ago. Are you favouring countries?

A good friend of mine worked at the US Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia for a 2 year stint a few years ago...despite everything, he loved it.

Damn that nordic version of their flag looks AWESOME!

@4:20 on satelite view it looks like there used to be a river there and they counted that as part of the other river they follow, an issue avoided if they hadnt taken that island, you say they get a village but the village isnt even within the russian borders, its quite literally poldered fields otherwise unused probably a good spot for wildlife

Ruhnu was part of Estonia after indepence in 1918 and, since Estonia continued to legally exist during the period of Soviet occupation, it continues to be part of Estonia today. Swedes opted to be in Estonia in 1918 because there was a Swedish minority in Estonia already (not so in Latvia) and they had cultural representation there.

the fact that you didnt make a video about latvia or lithuania,who also had their 100th birthdays in the same timespan, realy makes me happy :D

2:26 toycat: "there is Russia on the one side of the river, Estonia on the other. You can technically just walk from one side to the other, which is something than you don't really see very often" Meanwhile dozens of people at the picture: walking from one side to the other

The Hiiumaa island, the second largest island of Estonia, looks so similar to Crimea. It just looks like its mirror image.

So close to 50k

thank you

Amazing thanks

Lithuania also 100years old, where is video about us? :((

thanks man for making video of my country

Congratulations with the 50K subscribers!

I'm so happy when people make videos and notice our country 😊❤🇪🇪

There's some oddities between n. Korea and China boarder too. Found another high in the river too

11:46 actually it wasnt like that. what actually happened was that Ruhnu's people were asked that would they like Ruhnu to belong to Estonia or Latvia and they chose Estonia.

Woop Woop! Estonian here! Got to learn a bit about the border areas. i lve on the island of Ruhnu.. Some info was correct some mistaken. It is a great island. and the history is mooooostly correct

I really liked your geoguessr livestream... will you do any more livestreams?

Talinn looks really cool! I want to visit now.

In "Ivan Denisovich" by Solzhenitsyn some of his fellow prisoners are Estonians from the Forest Brothers fighting for their country.

Ayyy ty ibx for the great video (I'm from Estonia)

I love your intro

Were is the video of Lithuanian 100 anniversary? If you did for Estonia.

Hey why don’t you do why google maps in South Korea is so weird since the olympics are going on?

Yeay a video about my country!

There are examples of towns stradling the international border between the US and Canada. I'm even aware of buildings, including the town library and at least one private home which are partly in the Canadian province of Québec and partly in the US state of Vermont.

🎂🍰🇪🇪

Happy belated 105th Birthday, Estonia. I wish you well.

happy birthday

Czech and Slovakia technically have 100th Birthday

I've heard that Estonia is Fred Flintstone's favourite country, and his second favourite is Morocco.

YES! Head iseseisvuspäeva Eesti! Thank you for making this video! Estonia is my favourite country!

Very nice!

Hey ibx2cat, can you make a video about Latvia on it's 100th birthday? About Ābrene that went to Russia, about Palanga, about how many counties it has or something like that.

Thank you💜💚

Thanks! Love your high spirited commentary! Makes even me happier despite having Russia as a neighbour :P

cross looks awesome

m8, that russian estonian border agreement from 1920 will never take place again. Russians dont accept it and have already unofficially thrown it out. They would lose land with it and, well, they see most of the baltics as their land as is :/

Well, Tallinn reminded me of Visby, In Gotland Sweden and Visby is super medieval with a wall around the city and Really old and cool churches and castles from about 1200 ac to 1600 ac. Lots of Vikings lived there too. I was there 1 year ago and I recommend you going there. But probably in the summer instead of spring or fall or winter.

You should make a video on the caucasus countries as well as the issues between the main three

Is the Finland video a border video

Can someone tell me what is this guy on? How can he possibly keep at the same rhythm of speakinh without getting tired?!

Happy birthday to our beloved little brother from Finland!

This particular Nordic Cross design was actually proposed back in the 1919

Actually, Lake Peipsi border is not changed, it has stayed the same from the 1920 treaty. History of Ruhnu goes back further. Ruhnu and iland and the latvia-estonia border was cleared and dealt with in 1920. That is original border what you are looking at there. That was nothing do with USSR rule in regards to Ruhnu.

I`m living in Estonia omg you is the first youtuber i ever heard who talking about Estonia

I'm happy you referenced the tom Scott video

I live in Estonia!!

Happy 50K subs!

A bit incorrect story about Ruhnu island, but thanks for this nice Estonian border guide. Hope we will see same nice Latvian and Lithuanian border stories. With greeting from latvian born german.

Mentioning cities in two countries brings to mind two other cities: Basel-Basel/Bâle in Switzerland, Bâle in France and Nord-Basel in Germany; and further east, the Silesian city of Görlitz, with the southern part in modern-day Czechia, the north-eastern part in Poland and the north-western part in Germany. Further north, Frankfort a.d. Oder is split between Germany and Poland. The German/Polish splits are courtesy of...you guessed it, the former USSR.

Please do a welsh border video :/

Thanks for the vid :D I'm estonian and you educated me about my own country xD

The mcdonalds looks very futuristic inside, i recommend!

Happy 50k subs!

Actually, Latvians wanted Ruhnu (cuz they dont have any islands) Estonians and Latvians had a fish "battle" but both parties agreed that Estonia would get the island.

It has been 100 years for the baltics too! maybe do a video on all the baltics?

Awwww Russia made a road only for estonians! Yes, they put all those signs to look terrifying and cold, as always

thank youu

Waiting for the 18th of November to see a video about Latvia ^^

Nice Video, but can u upload them a little louder?

About Ruhnu isand. Residents of the island decided to be part of Estonia rather than Latvia. About Valka.. Latvia didn't really have a military unity (At least three different sides of war)when the town was split. Most of Latvia was freed from German Army troops (Landerswerch) and Soviet Latvia/Soviet Russia by Estonian Army. So no war would have been possible. The border in the mainland between Latvia and Estonia was drawn mostly by the ethnic farm locations of Estonians and Latvians.

Estonia is nordic!!! Edit: Estonia was formally part of the Swedish Empire which owned: Sweden, Trøndelag (Norway), most of Finland, Saint Petersberg, Estonia, and Western Latvia. It is more Uralic than European and other Uralic countries in Europe include: Finland, and Hungary, Estonia is also more Finnish but with a touch of their culture.

Sending shots at Team 10, good job Toycat

You got Ruhnu wrong. Story behind that island is actually far mor interesting than that. When Estonia got first independent 100 years ago they sent a delegation to that island and they agreed to buy more seal fat from Swedish islanders than Latvians promised to buy. Sadly, that was pretty much only time Estonians bought seal fat in such an ammount from Ruhnu islanders and for decates this seal fat was just rotting away in Tallinn harbor. That is why Latvia has 0 islands and Estonia has more than 1000 :) During the soviet time Russians only changed Eastern border of Estonia.