Some borders are geographic absurdities. Here are ten cases where diplomacy produced cartoon territory.
1. Baarle-Nassau / Baarle-Hertog (Netherlands and Belgium)
A town cut into 23 Belgian enclaves in the Netherlands, plus 7 Dutch enclaves inside those Belgian enclaves. A single house can have its kitchen in Belgium and its living room in the Netherlands. Ground markings specify the line.
2. Cooch Behar (India-Bangladesh)
Before 2015, the most enclaved region in the world. 102 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh, 71 Bangladeshi enclaves in India, and even an Indian “counter-enclave” inside a Bangladeshi enclave inside an Indian enclave in Bangladesh.
Resolved in 2015 by a massive territory exchange.
3. Llivia (France-Spain)
Spanish enclave in France, in the Pyrenees. 13 km², completely surrounded by French territory. Dates back to the 1659 Treaty of the Pyrenees which exempted “towns” (and Llivia had that status).
4. The US-Canada border at 49°N
3,400 km of perfectly straight East-West line. The longest straight-line border in the world, mostly through deserted forests. Established in 1818.
5. The “Y Point” Bir Tawil (Egypt-Sudan)
A 2,060 km² region claimed by no one. Neither Egypt nor Sudan wants it, due to a dispute over where to place the border. Probably the only territory in the world with no recognized owner.
6. Sealand (North Sea)
British military platform abandoned in 1967, claimed as a “principality” by a British family. Still unrecognized by any country, but issues passports and stamps.
7. The Spain-Morocco border at Ceuta and Melilla
Two Spanish cities in Moroccan territory, on the African continent. Remnants of the Iberian presence in Morocco dating back to the 15th century. Source of persistent diplomatic tensions.
8. The Lesotho “water line”
Lesotho is entirely enclaved in South Africa. Not a single free maritime or air border. To exit, you must cross South Africa.
9. The Vatican-Italy
The densest border in the world: 3.2 km for a country of 0.49 km². Hard to materialize on the ground: only floor markings and a line in St. Peter’s Square.
10. The Diomede border (Russia-US)
Two islands separated by 3.8 km in the Bering Strait. One belongs to Russia, the other to the US. But they are also separated by the international date line: at 200 meters, you jump from “today” to “yesterday.”
Other border curiosities
Borders by shifting rivers. The Rio Grande between US and Mexico has been modified several times based on its meanders.
Contested borders. Kashmir (India-Pakistan-China), Western Sahara, Crimea (Russia-Ukraine), Palestine-Israel.
“Blind” borders. Many African countries have borders drawn straight by colonizers without regard to ethnic groups. Source of many conflicts.
Why so many absurdities
Three reasons.
Medieval heritage. European borders carry centuries of royal marriages and obscure treaties.
Rapid decolonization. Africa was drawn with a ruler between 1880 and 1900 by colonial powers without considering local realities.
Political compromises. To avoid war, absurd configurations are sometimes accepted.
Worth reading: origin of country names and flag meanings.