Yes, that is what happened in our world - everywhere and everywhere between people, settlements, and even more so different states, there are borders (sometimes purely conditional, but often real, serious ones: with high fences and even barbed wire).
In fact, of course, the “materiality” of borders depends both on politics (where today without it?) And on the geographical landscape of a particular area.
For example, borders often occur along riverbeds or along mountain ranges. And the border of Australia with all its neighbors is the ocean (on the left - the Indian, on the right - the Pacific), because, as you know, Australia is not only a country, but also the mainland.
The border between the allied states and quite peaceful neighbors can simply be a conditional line, which you can easily cross without problems.
Well, from time immemorial, the warring countries have been building impenetrable walls with outposts, which not everyone or the first time can overcome.
Do you want to see the most unusual borders in the world? Then this selection is just for you.
10. Demilitarized zone between North and South Korea
One of the most serious borders in the world is the demilitarized zone between the two warring Koreas — the capitalist Republic of Korea and the communist Korean People’s Democratic Republic.
How she looks like? As a very fortified strip 241 km long and 4 km wide. And under it, by the way, South Korean border guards have discovered, at the moment, 17 secret tunnels dug from the North Korean side, through which, if necessary, soldiers can move in full combat gear.
At night, the border between the two Koreas is particularly clearly visible - the DPRK plunges into almost complete darkness, and, for example, the South Korean capital Seoul is also visible from space - it is so brightly lit.
Do you want another similar interesting fact about borders? If you look at modern Berlin from a height at night, you can clearly see that it was once divided into East and West: the first is highlighted with a yellowish light, and the second with white. The fact is that in East Berlin, sodium lamps were used to illuminate the streets, and in the West, halogen lamps. This difference is noticeable today.
9. Tuman River - the border between China and the DPRK and between the DPRK and Russia
As we have said above, rivers often become natural boundaries separating two neighboring countries. But, it turns out, there are some among them that designate the borders of three (!) Countries at once.
For example, the river Tumangan (Tumannaya) for most of its course is the border between China and the DPRK, and already in the lower reaches it separates the DPRK and Russia. Moreover, there is a conditional point (which is located right in the middle of the Mist channel), where the borders of all these three states converge
. And this example is not the only one: at the confluence of the River Die into Moravia, the borders of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria converge; on the "arrow" of the Iguazu and Parana rivers Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet, etc.
8. Bir Tawil - the territory between Egypt and Sudan
A desert area called Bir-Tawil (on which there is nothing at all valuable, not even water) is a unique example of a territory that no one needs.
As a result of some political collisions at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, this piece of the Sahara desert (for a minute, over 2 thousand km²) on the border of Egypt and Sudan became “no man's land”.
There has never been a permanent population here (only occasionally the nomads of the Ababda tribe walked with their herds), and neither Egypt nor Sudan categorically want to take it under their jurisdiction.
7. Diomede Islands - the border between Russia and the USA
Exactly in the middle of the Bering Strait, at a distance of about 35 km from both Alaska and Chukotka, there are two small rocky islands.
The larger one (with an area of about 10 km²), the Americans call the Big Diomede, and the Russians - the island of Ratmanov. And the second, smaller (about 5 km²), is the Small Diomede or the island of Kruzenshtern.
So, exactly between them passes not only the border between the US and Russia, but also the Date Line. And therefore, for the inhabitants of these two “outposts” (on the island of Ratmanov there is a base of Russian border guards, and on Small Diomede there is a small fishing village), a very interesting situation arises: the distance between them is only 4 km, but the Russians live a day ahead.
That is, when fishermen from Small Diomede look west, towards Russia, they literally "look into the future" - at the same hour, but already the next day.
6. Iguazu Falls - the border between Argentina and Brazil
And one of the most beautiful borders on the planet is the fantastic waterfalls of the Iguazu River that divide the territories of Brazil and Argentina. There are more waterfalls on the Argentine side, but of course, it is better to admire them from Brazil.
But, since the relations between the countries at the moment are simply wonderful, their citizens (and indeed tourists from other countries), very simply cross the border in both directions.
By the way, another beautiful natural border is located approximately in the same region of South America - it is a stunning flat mountain Roraima, towering at the junction of Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela.
5. Mount Everest - part of the border between Nepal and China
And again, the border created by nature itself (also the highest in the world) is the greatest mountain on the planet Earth Everest (or Chomolungma). Directly through its peak runs an invisible line separating the territories of China and Nepal.
And if you don’t remember the very tragic story of the conquest of this peak and the more than 250 climbers who died here (many remained lying on the slopes of Mount Everest), then we can consider it more unremarkable.
4. Cooch-Behar District - A Slice of India in Bangladesh
Do you know what an enclave and exclave are? Just in case, we remind you: an enclave is when part of the territory of one country (or even the whole country) is surrounded by the territory of another country, examples are the Vatican and San Marino inside Italy; and an exclave is always a non-independent (that is, not sovereign) part of a state surrounded by another state (or several).
So, for example, our Kaliningrad region is an enclave of Russia for Lithuania and Poland, and for Russia itself - an exclave. Understand more or less?
Now imagine the enclave in the enclave, which is also in the enclave. The only example of such a very confusing situation is the Indian region of Kuch-Bihar, which is surrounded by the Balapara Hagrabari district, owned by Bangladesh, which, in turn, is surrounded by the Indian territory of Dahal Hagrabari, located in Bangladesh. Yeah ... A real "geographic doll" ...
Such a situation on the border of India and Bangladesh was familiar until August 1, 2015 - there were already 200 (!) Enclaves. Following a special agreement, India transferred 111 enclaves to Bangladesh and 51 enclaves to Bangladesh to India. And their residents were allowed to choose their citizenship on their own.
3. Derby Line, Vermont - the border between the USA and Canada
The border between Canada and the USA is one of the longest in the world (8851 km). And in some of its sections, it passes not only through cities, but even through some buildings. The best example is the town of Derby Line.
For example, the library and opera house with the same name Haskell were specially built here right on the border line, “for joint cultural development”.
So, the auditorium in the theater is on the US side, and the stage is in Canada. About the same story with the library.
But it is probably especially funny to live in an ordinary house on the border - to take a shower, you need to go to Canada, and to make a sandwich, you have to go back to the kitchen - to the USA.
2. The border between Belgium and the Netherlands in Baarle
As for Europe, there (especially after the formation of the EU and the creation of the Schengen zone) many borders also became very arbitrary: most often - not indicated at all, sometimes - marked with white lines, or, for example, in the Belgian town of Baarle-Hertog (aka - Dutch Baarle-Nassau) - with white crosses.
The same story happened here as with the Canadian-American Derby Line: the border passed not just through the city, but also through some houses.
And the most enterprising owners of cafes and restaurants specially place their establishments exactly on the line of separation of the two states. The thing is that in the Netherlands food outlets are required to close quite early. Therefore, at “Hour”, customers simply transfer “to Belgium”.
1. Ceuta and Melilla - the borders of Spain in Morocco
We are used to thinking that Spain is a state located entirely in Europe. But no! It turns out that he still remained in possession of several former colonies in Africa.
These are 6 enclaves and semi-enclaves located in the territory of Morocco: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as 4 separate fortresses on the Mediterranean coast, surrounded by high walls with barbed wire.
It’s not that the Spaniards were very afraid of Morocco’s attacks on these territories (although relations between countries — precisely because of these “pieces of Spain” in the middle of another country — are sometimes very tense).
It’s rather an attempt to at least somehow limit the influx of illegal migrants who believe that, having flinched in Ceuta or Melilla, they automatically end up in Europe and can go further to Spain, because (but how else!) Are worthy of decent housing and a good allowance.
By the way, all these walls and fortifications around Spanish exclaves in Africa were built recently - in 2001 (with EU money).