Discover the World’s Most Extreme National Borders
With so many diverse nations jutting up against one another there are bound to be a few contentious borders on the planet. And, with our landscapes so rich and varied, many national borders are sites of immense mountains or stupendous waterways. So here is a look at the world’s most extreme national borders, places where you may well need to bring your passport with you to fully experience them.
Argentina & Chile
English: Beagle channel Argentina Español: Canal de Beagle Argentina Euskara: Beagle Kanala Argentina (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Argentina’s southernmost border is also one of the most challenging yachting destinations on the planet, and a must for any hardcore enthusiast of sailing holidays. For it is the incredible Beagle Channel that separates Argentina and Chile, a large fjord-like waterway in mountainous Tierra Del Fuego. The strait is named after Darwin’s famous ship HMS Beagle, which visited the area in the early 19th century, while the waterway has frequently been the site of contention between Chile and Argentina, who both claim right of passage here.
Argentina, Brazil & Paraguay
Yes, it is Argentina again, but this time it is the border at Ciudad del Este in Paraguay that divides three nations. Here Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay come into close contact, with only a barely policed bridge separating the latter two nations from one another. Due to the close proximity this border town has turned into something of a modern day wild west scene, with smuggling, piracy, drugs and crime flourishing here. In fact illicit black market trade here is said to be five times more valuable than any legal economy hosted in the town. Despite the dodgy atmosphere, Ciudad del Este is still a thriving city, and one of the most multi-cultural in Latin America, with large amounts of Chinese, Korean, Iranian and Lebanese traders having set up shop here in recent decades.
U.S.A. & Mexico
The 1,969 mile border between America and Mexico is one of the most extreme and controversial borders in the planet. Though the landscapes on either side of the line are fairly similar, the border is one of the most fortified in the world, with huge fences lining much of its length, well-equipped patrols a frequent site and watch-towers dotted every few miles or so. The reason is because of the immense wealth disparity between wealthy America and relatively impoverished Mexico. This has caused millions of Mexicans to illegally emigrate north in recent decades, and America has responded by turning the border into one of the world’s most potent symbols of wealth inequality.
England & France
One of the world’s most unusual national borders lies in the middle of the English Channel some 50 metres below the sea bed. Halfway between England and France, at the mid-point of the Channel Tunnel, the official border between these two nations is rarely noticed by those who travel on the Eurostar. Yet in December 1992 officials from the two countries shook hands to agree the exact limit of their national territories. So next time you are setting off on family holidays abroad via the Channel Tunnel, think about that exact moment you cross from Britain to France.
India & Pakistan
Perhaps the most extreme national border on the planet, the dividing line between India and Pakistan has been fought over for decades since the two nations were split by partition back in 1947. And no site represents this border better than the Siachen Glacier, a mountainous wasteland some 18,000 feet above sea level in the frozen and barren Himalayas. Despite this area being almost entirely uninhabitable, both India and Pakistan station thousands of troops here, showing just how bitter this border dispute really is.
John is a travel writer with a deep seated passion for romantic sailing holidays in the Mediterranean.
