There’s a dispute over who owns a lighthouse on this tiny little island between Finland and Sweden. In the late 19th century, the Finnish territories were under Russian rule, and Market Island was divided between Finland and Sweden. As there were plenty of other, rocky islands surrounding this location, with choppy and dangerous water, it was decided that a lighthouse was needed to prevent further shipwrecks. Russian Tsar Alexander III ordered a Finnish architect to build a lighthouse on the island at the highest point – which happened to be on the Swedish side.

Even though it was in another country’s territory, the Finns fought for the lighthouse and there were plenty of skirmishes between the countries, starting in 1885. By 1985, the border was finally adjusted to a strange ‘S’ shape that granted the lighthouse to Finland, and gave Sweden the equivalent amount of territory in return.

It’s a lot of shit to shovel over an empty and barren island with an automated lighthouse.