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Norway mulls giving mountain peak to Finland as gift

In this 2008 file photo, a general view is seen of the Halti mountain, on the Finnish and Norwegian borders, in Enontekio, Finland. (Mikko Stig / Associated Press)
Associated Press

HELSINKI – Norway is considering moving a mountain – or at least its peak – to neighboring Finland.

Anne Nordskog, a spokeswoman for Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, said Wednesday the government is contemplating a proposal to give the Halti peak as a gift to Finland next year as the Finns celebrate 100 years of independence.

Most of the mountain is on the Finnish side of their northern border but the peak of 1,331 meters (4,367 feet) is in Norway. The proposal would redraw the border to put the peak in Finland.

While mountainous Norway has several peaks that are higher, Finland’s highest mountain is 1,325 meters.

Former Norwegian state surveyor Bjorn Geirr Harsson, who came up with the proposal, said “it would be nice to give Finland an extra 6 meters (20 feet).”