Frontiers and Boundaries

Frontiers and Boundaries

Frontiers: International frontiers and boundaries separate land, rivers and lakes subject to different sovereignties. In 1900 frontiers had almost disappeared and had been replaced by boundaries that are lines. A Frontier is a politico geographical area, lying beyond defined borders of a political unit into which expansion could take place

Different between Frontier and Boundary

Boundaries: Aboundaryisalinedemarcating the recognised limit of an established political unit, administrative region or geographical region e. g a state, country or district.

China has the maximum number of neighbours touching its border. The 14 countries touching its border are: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal

Canada,the world’s second largest country, shares the longest international land border with the United States. The Canada-US land border is 8,893 km long.

Types of Boundaries

Boundaries can be classified according to their relationship with the cultural landscape. Some boundaries were established prior to the permanent occupation of areas by the present inhabitants. In some cases patterns of settlement were already developing so that the boundary ultimately established has a different relationship to the cultural realities of the area involved. This classification is known as the functional or genetic classification of boundaries.

Genetic Classification of the boundaries

1.  Antecedent Boundaries

The boundaries drawn before the cultural-political realm.

Such boundaries were non-contentious.

E .g, N. Africa and the state boundaries of USA

2.  The Subsequent Boundaries

When the cultural realms are fully developed & political boundaries are contentious.

Such boundaries are irregular or amorphic boundaries.

E.g. the countries of Europe.

3.  Superimposed Boundaries

When a political boundary divides a homogenous cultural region and across the boundary the people with similar ethnicity are found.

E.g. Pakistan occupied Kashmir

4.  Relict Boundaries

Historical boundaries which only exist in the books.

E .g. Persia, the boundary between east & West Germany.