The Atlas of Unusual Borders: Discover Intriguing Boundaries, Territories and Geographical Curiosities

A beautifully presented gift for anyone with an intrigue for geographical curiosities. This beautifully designed book presents unusual borders, enclaves and exclaves, divided or non-existent cities and islands. Numerous conflicts have left countries divided and often shattered. Remnants of countries can by design or accident be left behind as a legal anomaly in this complex world. Most people believe that a countrys borders are clearly defined: just lines that separate countries. Everything on one side of the line belongs to one country and everything on the other side belongs to another country. This might be the case most of the time, but there are unusual exceptions to this unwritten rule. Examples include: Campione dItalia where Italian residents have to travel 15km through Switzerland to reach the nearest available Italian territory Tomb of Suleyman Shah which is a tiny Turkish enclave within Syria which was moved closer to Turkey when Lake Assad was created but still stayed in Syria Pheasant Island which for half a year belongs to the Spanish city of Irun, and the remaining half, to its French twin-town, Hendaye Canadian Stanstead and American Beebe Plain where the boundary line runs along the centre of the main street, so that the houses on one side of the street are in Canada and on the other in the United States These and many more instances are captured in this fascinating book full of strange geographical intrigue. International Cartographic conference 2021 overall winner of the atlas category and shortlisted for the 2020 Edward Stanford Travel Writing. Front Cover Front Endpaper Half Title Contents Introduction Enclaves, exclaves, and other phenomena Medurjecje - Bosnia and Herzegovina | Serbia Llívia - France | Spain Brezovica - Croatia | Slovenia Campione d’Italia - Italy | Switzerland Vennbahn - Belgium | Germany Büsingen am Hochrhein - Germany | Switzerland Baarle - Belgium | Netherlands Jungholz - Austria | Germany Cyprus and its borders Exclaves of Russia Enclaves in Central Asia Madha and Nahwa - Oman | United Arab Emirates Armenia – Azerbaijan border Tomb of Suleyman Shah - Syria | Turkey Saint Pierre and Miquelon - Canada | France Island enclaves in rivers and lakes Condominium Spain – Morocco border France – Netherlands border Canada – USA border Märket Island - Finland | Sweden Diomede Islands - Russia | USA Moroccan Berm - Western Sahara Passport Island - Bahrain | Saudi Arabia North Sentinel Island - India Border quadripoints Unusual internal borders Unusual capitals Chandigarh - India Tornio and Haparanda - Finland | Sweden La Cure - France | Switzerland Valga and Valka - Estonia | Latvia Frankfurt (Oder) and Slubice - Germany | Poland Gorizia and Nova Gorica - Italy | Slovenia Herzogenrath and Kerkrade - Germany | Netherlands Martelange - Belgium | Luxembourg Istanbul - Turkey The Ural River and cities on two continents Ghost towns Jewish Autonomous Oblast - Russia British Crown Dependencies German Green Belt The Principality of Andorra Caprivi Strip - Namibia Oil rocks - Azerbaijan No man’s land on the - Serbia–Croatia border Mount Athos Glossary Map Key Acknowledgements Imprint Endpaper Back Cover Blank Page The World Is Not Always What We Think It Is. This Book Presents Unusual Borders, Enclaves And Exclaves, Divided Or Non-existent Cities And Islands. Numerous Conflicts Have Left Countries Divided And Often Shattered. Remnants Of Countries Can By Design Or Accident Be Left Behind As A Legal Anomaly In This Complex World. Most People Believe That A Country's Borders Are Clearly Defined: Just Lines That Separate Countries. Everything On One Side Of The Line Belongs To One Country And Everything On The Other Side Belongs To Another Country. This Might Be The Case Most Of The Time, But There Are Unusual Exceptions To This Unwritten Rule. Examples Include: * Campione D'italia Where Italian Residents Have To Travel 15km Through Switzerland To Reach The Nearest Available Italian Territory. * Tomb Of Suleyman Shah Which Is A Tiny Turkish Enclave Within Syria Which Was Moved Closer To Turkey When Lake Assad Was Created But Still Stayed In Syria. * Pheasant Island Which For Half A Year Belongs To The Spanish City Of Irun, And The Remaining Half, To Its French Twin-town, Hendaye. * Canadian Stanstead And American Beebe Plain Where The Boundary Line Runs Along The Center Of The Main Street, So That The Houses On One Side Of The Street Are In Canada And On The Other In The United States. These And Many More Instances Are Captured In This Fascinating Book Full Of Strange Geographical Intrigue. Most people believe that a country's borders are clearly defined: just lines that separate countries. Everything on one side of the line belongs to one country and everything on the other side belongs to another country. This might be the case most of the time, but there are unusual exceptions to this unwritten rule. One of the stated exceptions is located in southwest Serbia, near Priboj and the tri-border area between Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The village of Medurecje is in question, which belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina (specifically, the Municipality of Rudo from Republika Srpska), but which is completely surrounded by the territory of Serbia! This means that an inhabitant of Medurecje would have to cross the border between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina at least two times, if he wanted to go to his municipality office in Rudo. There is a similar situation in the south of the Netherlands, in the town of Baarle, which partly belongs to Belgium, even though there is no land connection between them. In this case, the borders of these two kingdoms are clearly marked in the streets, parks, and even houses. The position of the front door determines which country the owner will pay taxes to. These and many more instances are captured in this fascinating book full of strange geographical intrigue