Buzz
Borders are typically invisible lines that aren’t remarkable in any way—often unnoticed until you spot a sign that says, “Welcome to Oregon” or “You are now leaving California” while driving down the highway. But not all borders are so unassuming. Some are unique or intriguing in certain ways. Here are nine such border zones, in no specific order, that stand out for their unusual characteristics.
10. Spain/Morocco Border
Ceuta is a small autonomous Spanish city of 18.5 square kilometers (7.1 square miles) located on the northern coast of Africa, encircled by Morocco. Positioned on the Strait of Gibraltar, it lies at the intersection of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. While Morocco claims Ceuta, along with Melilla and nearby Mediterranean islands, Spain has constructed a 3-meter-high border fence, topped with barbed wire, to protect the enclave.
9. Baarle-Nassau/Baarle-Hertog
Baarle-Nassau, a municipality in the Netherlands, shares an extraordinary border with the Belgian municipality of Baarle-Hertog. The area of Baarle-Hertog is divided into 26 separate sections, all surrounded by Baarle-Nassau, with some of its sections also incorporating parts of Baarle-Nassau. The smallest of these sections, situated in Belgium, spans just two-thirds of an acre (or about one-quarter of a hectare). The intricacy of the border is such that it even bisects certain houses, with the Netherlands lying on one side and Belgium on the other, as seen in the picture.
8. Bir Tawil
Bir Tawil is a vast expanse of land covering approximately 795 square miles (2,060 square kilometers). Located between Egypt and Sudan, it was formed inadvertently in 1902 when the United Kingdom drew a new border that differed from the 1899 border. This discrepancy created two distinct areas: Bir Tawil and Halaib.
Halaib, rich in resources, is highly sought after, whereas Bir Tawil is barren. As a result, Egypt claims the 1899 border, which places Halaib under Egyptian control and Bir Tawil under Sudanese control. In contrast, Sudan claims the 1902 border, which gives Halaib to Sudan and Bir Tawil to Egypt. This mutual rejection has resulted in Bir Tawil being the only land on Earth (outside of Antarctica) not claimed by any nation.
7. Mount Everest
You might be wondering why Mount Everest is included on this list. It is widely known as the tallest mountain in the world, but what many may not realize is that the border between Nepal and China actually runs directly through the mountain, including its peak, making it not only the highest point on Earth but also the highest border area.
6. District of Columbia
The District of Columbia was originally created as a large diamond-shaped area taken from Maryland and Virginia, though the portion from Virginia was later returned. Its unique shape and location resulted in an interesting border. Large stones were placed one mile apart around the entire district to mark the boundary—one hundred stones in total, as the original district measured ten miles on each side. While some stones are missing today, many remain, including one in Silver Spring, Maryland, which marks the northernmost point of the District.
The border has other peculiarities as well. Eastern Avenue and Western Avenue serve as the northeastern and northwestern boundaries. When walking along the northern sidewalk, you are in Maryland, but the street itself lies within the District, and the curb marks the state line. Interestingly, stores on opposite sides of the street display different area codes on their windows, reflecting the two distinct regions—one for Maryland to the north and another for the District to the south.
5. Derby Line, Vermont
The town of Derby Line lies on the US-Canada border, with the boundary cutting through the town itself, even passing through some buildings and homes. In certain cases, a family may cook their meals in one country and then sit down to eat them in the other. Derby Line is also the location of the Haskell Free Library and Opera House, intentionally constructed on the border. The opera stage is located in Canada, but the entrance and most of the seating area are in the United States. Due to the building's positioning across the border, it holds two mailing addresses—one in the US and another in Canada.
4. Cooch-Behar District
The Cooch-Behar District's borders are somewhat comparable to those of the Baarle-Nassau/Baarle-Hertog border. Several parcels under Bangladeshi jurisdiction lie within India, and conversely, some Indian territories are within Bangladesh. A particularly oddity is Balapara Khagrabari, an Indian exclave completely surrounded by Bangladesh. However, Balapara Khagrabari itself surrounds a Bangladeshi area, which in turn encircles another Indian exclave, Dahala Khagrabari, making this the only known location where an exclave contains another exclave, which itself contains yet a third exclave.
3. The Diomedes
The Diomedes are two islands located in the Bering Strait. Little Diomede is home to the American city of Diomede, with a population of 146, while Big Diomede is part of Russia and remains uninhabited. The islands are separated by a distance of approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers). The International Date Line runs between the islands, also marking the border between the United States and Russia. As a result, when residents of Little Diomede gaze across the strait at Big Diomede, they are not only looking into another country, but they are also peering into the future. For instance, when it is 9 AM on Saturday in Little Diomede, it is already 6 AM on Sunday in Big Diomede. Little Diomede has even set up a webcam for visitors to control, allowing them to pan the camera and zoom in on Big Diomede.
2. Tumen River
The Tumen River is located in Northeastern Asia. Near the coastline, along the border between Russia and North Korea, just south of Lake Khasan, the river flows through a region where it passes between these two nations, although it is technically in Chinese territory. In this area, a person could start in North Korea and walk north for less than half a mile, crossing into China and then reaching Russia. However, doing so is likely not advisable, as it is a common route for North Koreans attempting to defect and is tightly monitored by North Korean soldiers.
1. Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) stretches over 160 miles (258 kilometers) long and is about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) wide, forming a dividing line between North and South Korea. This area holds the distinction of being the most heavily fortified border in the world. Due to the intense security and the fact that very few people enter, the DMZ has unintentionally become a sanctuary for wildlife. Several endangered species now inhabit the zone, and some are even showing signs of increasing in number. Interestingly, the DMZ doesn’t exactly define a formal border; instead, it encompasses a 'Military Demarcation Line' (MDL), as the two nations technically remain at war. A ceasefire was signed in 1953, but an official peace treaty has never been established.
