# Interesting pictures of international borders **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 10, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576 "2016-03-10T20:03:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/1 "2016-03-10T20:03:37Z")
This thread in response to Velocity’s question. > [@Aside from cost and ill will, what makes a border fence a bad idea?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aside-from-cost-and-ill-will-what-makes-a-border-fence-a-bad-idea/748497/1): > > Also, what do most national borders look like - mere signposts? I’ve started a new thread for it, because it’s interesting enough to be a topic on its own, and it would hijack the political discussion in the original thread. Here are some collections of pictures showing interesting pictures of borders. Some of them are beautiful natural boundaries. Some of them illustrate the environmental effects of different politics in two countries. Others have interesting markers or structures at the border. There is some overlap between the sites, with some pictures appearing multiple times. But they all have some unique pictures. > **[93 International Borders Around The World](https://www.boredpanda.com/international-borders/)** > > History (and sometimes, unfortunately, current events) shows us just how easily national borders can change, but we still like to think that they are permanent fixtures. These photos of different national borders around the world show you how both... > **[22 Eye-Opening International Borders From Around The World](http://www.buzzfeed.com/austinhunt/22-eye-opening-international-borders-from-around-the-world#.qrBEgkQXE)** > > From North America to the Middle East, here are some of the coolest pictures of international borders. Check out the full thread by Quora that this list was inspired by. [http://thechive.com/2014/10/28/bizarre-international-borders-and-the-interesting-details-behind-them-31-photos/](http://thechive.com/2014/10/28/bizarre-international-borders-and-the-interesting-details-behind-them-31-photos/) [http://uk.businessinsider.com/photos-of-international-borders-from-around-the-world-2015-7?r=US&IR=T](http://uk.businessinsider.com/photos-of-international-borders-from-around-the-world-2015-7?r=US&IR=T) Some of my favourites: [spoiler] People using the US/ Mexico border fence for a game of volleyball. The Belgium/ Netherlands border that runs straight through someone’s house. Ziplining between Spain and Portugal The Snowmobile track between Norway and Sweden. [/spoiler] Feel free to share any others. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/2 "2016-03-10T20:36:57Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [http://www.boredpanda.com/international-borders/](http://www.boredpanda.com/international-borders/) I admit being slightly disappointed that this list, while interesting, did not included a shot of the border between China and Mongolia on which would be sitting… a bored panda. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/3 "2016-03-11T11:23:33Z")
Can’t say they’re particularly interesting but [a hotel just on the French side of the border from Spain](https://www.google.es/maps/place/Hotel+Clementenia/@43.110257,-1.280379,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1s-iwd_AJbjH7M%2FVMnQdHwE9YI%2FAAAAAAAAABA%2FKfeAyrAXURQ!2e4!3e12!6s%2F%2Flh6.googleusercontent.com%2F-iwd_AJbjH7M%2FVMnQdHwE9YI%2FAAAAAAAAABA%2FKfeAyrAXURQ%2Fs130-k-no%2F!7i760!8i500!4m2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xdd8ff09ba299035a!6m1!1e1) [Border](https://www.google.es/maps/@47.5718616,7.5574791,3a,75y,343.24h,90.96t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1seHVzfIRJFPLGdp1DGbVa5g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1) [passes](https://www.google.es/maps/place/Basilea,+Suiza/@47.577163,7.5719302,3a,75y,119.29h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sCBttLynbYtF6nPZlCM2COQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DCBttLynbYtF6nPZlCM2COQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D129.74063%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x479049c72769304f:0x361ceb70f36d8a90!6m1!1e1) between Basel, Switzerland and Saint-Louis, France. I used to take the second one daily, one of Basel’s tram lines starts just behind it. That tree-covered island is [Pheasants Island](https://www.google.es/maps/place/Isla+de+los+Faisanes/@43.3422931,-1.7652886,3a,75y,3.04h,75.95t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAIn00z2bj_y-JxUCIBCdVQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DAIn00z2bj_y-JxUCIBCdVQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D230.78271%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0xd5108c505ebad79:0x5bb7a51dafc0dbeb!6m1!1e1), in the Bidasoa River between France and Spain. The [Treaty of the Pyrinees](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_the_Pyrenees) was signed there. [Views of the Miño or Minho River](https://www.google.es/maps/@42.0361716,-8.6466932,3a,75y,54.08h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sUv3-qbounCgE_zcTG4UXvA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DUv3-qbounCgE_zcTG4UXvA%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D45.712872%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656), between Tuy (Spain) and Valenca (Portugal). Are we tired of water yet? [The Oresundbron](https://www.google.es/maps/place/%C3%98resund+Bridge/@55.5706493,12.8487433,3a,75y,254.69h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sBBR4B26R5sAXNfGu4nZt6Q!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo1.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DBBR4B26R5sAXNfGu4nZt6Q%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D244.16408%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x4653a7023a051afb:0xbc0e93c11c372873!6m1!1e1), between Copenhaguen (Denmark) and Malmö (Sweden). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/4 "2016-03-11T11:54:29Z")
[Here’s my picture](https://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/5166862304/in/album-72157625347313266/) of the border between the United States and Canada. (The picture is taken from Canada, so the border is in the middle of the river, at the bottom of the picture). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/5 "2016-03-11T12:55:04Z")
Sint Maarten and Saint Martin. One island with a [Dutch side and a French side](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.caribbeanmedstudent.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/29/my-first-day-in-st-maarten/2.1166621940.st_maarten_border_crossing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.caribbeanmedstudent.com/2009/08/my-first-day-in-st-maarten/&h=413&w=550&tbnid=tX0eunEQy_UQIM:&docid=VEaSQQRQJbPm5M&hl=en-us&ei=Qr7iVtCnE4Pt-QGw27ewBw&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0ahUKEwjQ0P2c1bjLAhWDdj4KHbDtDXYQMwgdKAEwAQ). I always whistle _La Marseillaise_ when we pass [this sign](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.distantshores.ca/news_files/8kmrun10-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.distantshores.ca/news_files/StMartin_Running_Hiking.html&h=360&w=480&tbnid=3eSMPFWsrO6pmM:&docid=P7SvEXYMhVxi9M&hl=en-us&ei=Qr7iVtCnE4Pt-QGw27ewBw&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0ahUKEwjQ0P2c1bjLAhWDdj4KHbDtDXYQMwg_KBgwGA), which we usually do several times a day while on vacation. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/6 "2016-03-11T15:23:34Z")
The one I find most dramatic is the nighttime view of the two Koreas from space. There is no question which one is which – North Korea is simply a black hole. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/7 "2016-03-11T16:17:43Z")
The [Taylor “Highway”](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RXOQa1JWLfI/TzBxWtWp-LI/AAAAAAAAAEI/GcNX46Vv_HA/s320/BILD2688+sm.jpg) leading to the Poker Creek border crossing between Alaska and Canada. I’ve driven that incredibly crappy road more times than I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/8 "2016-03-11T16:54:28Z")
I’ve always liked the ceremony they have at the one crossing between India and Pakistan. It’d be neat if more countries did something like that. Also Australia’s border is pretty neat. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/9 "2016-03-11T19:18:58Z")
The [black line](http://40.media.tumblr.com/2df8cfcbbac43efe648747ad9bd5e3d5/tumblr_njsjkvT00a1rhavdko2_400.jpg) represents the border between Canada and the United States. And this is what it appears to be; a [public library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_Free_Library_and_Opera_House) that’s shared by the towns of Derby Line, Vermont and Stanstead, Quebec. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/10 "2016-03-11T19:22:31Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > The one I find most dramatic is the nighttime view of the two Koreas from space. There is no question which one is which – North Korea is simply a black hole. The weird thing is that when Korea was divided there were concerns that South Korea wouldn’t be economically viable. Before the split, the southern half of Korea was mainly farmland and most of Korea’s advanced industry was in the north. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/11 "2016-03-11T20:52:13Z")
This is a great website: [http://www.clui.org/section/united-divide-a-linear-portrait-usacanada-border](http://www.clui.org/section/united-divide-a-linear-portrait-usacanada-border) It explores the border between US and Canada, from end to end! ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/12 "2016-03-11T21:49:22Z")
My favorite is the border(s) between [Baarle-Hertog, Belgium and Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands.](http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/11/the-curious-case-of-baarle-nassau-and.html) I can’t imagine what kind of situation led to that cartographic catastrophe. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/13 "2016-03-12T01:32:16Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > My favorite is the border(s) between [Baarle-Hertog, Belgium and Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands.](http://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/11/the-curious-case-of-baarle-nassau-and.html) > > I can’t imagine what kind of situation led to that cartographic catastrophe. My impression is that individual landowners were allowed to choose which kingdom(?) they could belong to. Not sure when or why… ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interesting-pictures-of-international-borders/748576/14 "2016-03-12T02:02:27Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > My impression is that individual landowners were allowed to choose which kingdom(?) they could belong to. Not sure when or why… This site: [Baarle Nassau and Baarle Hertog](http://ontology.buffalo.edu/smith//baarle.htm) has a lot of detail