Images of the Narva River region at the border between Russia and Estonia. Hover over a picture to see its caption and click on it to enlarge it.

• Narva-Jöessu

  Classical elegance in the public gardens at Narva-Jöessu on the coast of Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  Classical elegance in the public gardens at Narva-Jöessu on the coast of Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  The Narva-Jöessu Spa and Sanatorium is just a hundred metres from one of Europe’s longest beaches. With the Russian border just a few hundred metres away, this resort is a popular retreat for residents of nearby St Petersburg (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  The Narva-Jöessu Spa and Sanatorium is just a hundred metres from one of Europe’s longest beaches. With the Russian border just a few hundred metres away, this resort is a popular retreat for residents of nearby St Petersburg (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  Isolation on a Baltic beach in north-east Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  Isolation on a Baltic beach in north-east Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  At a local summer festival in Narva-Jöessu (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  At a local summer festival in Narva-Jöessu (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  Beach comforts at dawn (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva-Jöessu

  Beach comforts at dawn (photo © hidden europe).

• River Narva

  A fragment of the Post-Soviet world. The River Narva now marks the frontier between the Russian Federation and Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• River Narva

  A fragment of the Post-Soviet world. The River Narva now marks the frontier between the Russian Federation and Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The fortress at Narva in Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The fortress at Narva in Estonia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Fortress ramparts at Narva (photo © hidden europe)

• Narva

  Fortress ramparts at Narva (photo © hidden europe)

• Ivangorod

  The Russian hydrolectric plant on the River Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Ivangorod

  The Russian hydrolectric plant on the River Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Ivangorod

  The border bridge marks the frontier between Estonia and Russia (photo © hidden europe).

• Ivangorod

  The border bridge marks the frontier between Estonia and Russia (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The railway station at Narva is the last stop in Estonia before eastbound trains cross into the Russian Federation (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The railway station at Narva is the last stop in Estonia before eastbound trains cross into the Russian Federation (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Lenin in proclamatory mode in the grounds of the fortress at Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Lenin in proclamatory mode in the grounds of the fortress at Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  A border community par excellence, Narva has a predictable array of clutter on the frontier with Russia.

• Narva

  A border community par excellence, Narva has a predictable array of clutter on the frontier with Russia.

• Narva

  Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the River Narva marks one of the political fracture lines of Europe: the outer edge of the EU and the Schengen area (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Since the break-up of the Soviet Union, the River Narva marks one of the political fracture lines of Europe: the outer edge of the EU and the Schengen area (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Estonian Border Guard vessel on the River Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Estonian Border Guard vessel on the River Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Lake Narva

  South of Ivangorod and Narva, Narva veehoidla (Lake Narva) offers remote marshland and island habitats astride the Russian / Estonian border (photo © hidden europe).

• Lake Narva

  South of Ivangorod and Narva, Narva veehoidla (Lake Narva) offers remote marshland and island habitats astride the Russian / Estonian border (photo © hidden europe).

• Kulgu

  The grey economy in action. This impromptu settlement, unplanned and not sanctioned by the authorities, has developed in a remote area on the shores of Lake Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Kulgu

  The grey economy in action. This impromptu settlement, unplanned and not sanctioned by the authorities, has developed in a remote area on the shores of Lake Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Kulgu

  There is an entire culture surrounding garages in the former Soviet Union. Little "places apart", some are havens of luxury with fridges and televisions. Here is a variation on the garage theme on the shores of Lake Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Kulgu

  There is an entire culture surrounding garages in the former Soviet Union. Little "places apart", some are havens of luxury with fridges and televisions. Here is a variation on the garage theme on the shores of Lake Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• River Narva

  Captain Indrek Püvi (left), Chief of Narva Border Guard Station and Oleg Gradinor, a junior border guard in Narva, look out across the River Narva.

• River Narva

  Captain Indrek Püvi (left), Chief of Narva Border Guard Station and Oleg Gradinor, a junior border guard in Narva, look out across the River Narva.

• Narva

  A little detritus from European military history on the banks of the River Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  A little detritus from European military history on the banks of the River Narva (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The Krenholm textile plant was a Soviet success story and was long the principal employer in the Narva / Ivangorod area. Now it is an abandoned shell. Production stopped in 2010 (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The Krenholm textile plant was a Soviet success story and was long the principal employer in the Narva / Ivangorod area. Now it is an abandoned shell. Production stopped in 2010 (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The House of Culture, now sadly neglected, was opened in 1857 to mark the centenary of textile production at the Krenholm factory (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  The House of Culture, now sadly neglected, was opened in 1857 to mark the centenary of textile production at the Krenholm factory (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Crisis? Narva is having to reinvent itself as its post-Soviet economy adjusts to the demands of the free market (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Crisis? Narva is having to reinvent itself as its post-Soviet economy adjusts to the demands of the free market (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Narva has some fine street art and sculptures, many of them left over from the Soviet period (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Narva has some fine street art and sculptures, many of them left over from the Soviet period (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Even in a town with high unemployment and some significant economic challenges, there is still space for flowers (photo © hidden europe).

• Narva

  Even in a town with high unemployment and some significant economic challenges, there is still space for flowers (photo © hidden europe).