Embedded Files
What is the longest international border in the world?
What are the borders of Canada?
How can Canada share a land border with Denmark which is nearly 4,000 miles away?
What is a Boundary?
What is a Boundary?
A boundary is a real or imaginary line that separates two things. In geography, boundaries separate different regions of the Earth. There are many different types of boundaries. The most obvious type of boundary is a physical boundary.
Physical Boundaries (image 2)
Physical Boundaries (image 2)
Boundaries separate people and places.
The most obvious type of boundary is a physical boundary. A physical boundary is a natural barrier between two areas. Rivers, mountain ranges, oceans and deserts are examples. Many times, political boundaries between countries or states form along physical boundaries. For example, the boundary between the continents of Europe and Asia are the Ural Mountains.
Rivers are common boundaries between nations, states and smaller political areas, such as counties. The Mississippi River is the defining boundary between many of the states it winds through, including Illinois and Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee, and Louisiana and Mississippi.
image 3
Another type of physical boundary lies below the Earth's surface. The Earth's shell, or crust, is made of thick slabs of rock called tectonic plates. There are seven major tectonic plates and many smaller ones. These plates are constantly moving.
Image 4
Interaction between tectonic plates creates activity on their boundaries. Sometimes, the plates spread apart from each other, creating ocean trenches and, eventually, continents. When these plates move around, they can cause large cracks in the earth, called fault lines. Volcanoes and earthquakes are more likely to happen along fault lines.
The fault line between the Pacific and North American plates makes the U.S. state of California more likely to have earthquakes.
Political Boundaries
Political Boundaries
Political boundaries are the dividing lines between countries, states, provinces, counties and cities. These lines, more often called borders, are created by people to separate areas governed by different groups. Sometimes, political boundaries follow physical boundaries. Most of the time you can't see them. Most maps show political boundaries.
Image 5
Image 6: The DMZ at the 38th Parallel.
Political boundaries change over time through wars, treaties and trade. For example, after the Korean War in 1953, an agreement was made splitting North Korea and South Korea creating a demilitarized zone (DMZ) between the two countries. The DMZ is a border barrier that lies roughly on the 38 degrees North line of latitude. This DMZ was to serve as a buffer (protection) zone between the two countries where military activities is forbidden by both sides.
Image 7: The Louisianna Purchase
In 1803, the United States (under President Thomas Jefferson) bought a massive piece of land in a treaty with France. This land, called the Louisiana Purchase, expanded the size of the U.S. The western boundary of the U.S. moved from the Mississippi River to what is now Yellowstone National Park. The U.S. gained areas we now know as Missouri, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado and many more.
An important type of political boundary in the United States is the boundary of a congressional district. This is an area that elects a representative to the U.S. House of Representatives. Its drawing depends on the findings of the U.S. Census, a population survey of the country taken every 10 years. If the population of a state grows or shrinks, that state may gain or lose a representative in the House. When this happens, congressional district lines are redrawn.
The Illinois congressional district is shown right. This map was drafted based on the 2010 census where Illinois was apportioned 18 members in the U.S. House of Representatives. What congressional district do we live? This map will be redrawn after the 2020 census where the state lost a member to the U.S. House of Representatives to reflect 17 congressional districts.
Image 8: 2010 IL Congressional Districts
Other Boundaries
Other Boundaries
Political boundaries are just one type of man-made boundary. Other boundaries created by people include language and economic/social class boundaries.
Language boundaries form between areas where people speak different languages. Often, these boundaries match political boundaries. For example, the most common language in France is French.
In India, hundreds of different languages are spoken. The Indian government recognizes 22 of these as official languages. People who speak these languages are generally split up into different regions. Not being able to speak a neighboring region's language can cause tensions between people.
Image 9: Economic Boundaries 1
Economic boundaries divide people with different levels of wealth. Sometimes these boundaries happen along borders between countries. The border between the wealthier country of the United States and the less-wealthy country of Mexico is both an economic boundary and a political one.
Sometimes, economic boundaries fall within a single country, and even within a single city. For example, Beverly Hills, in Los Angeles, California, is a wealthy neighborhood (photo left below). It has famous colleges and hospitals. Watts (right below) is a poorer neighborhood just a few miles away from Beverly Hills (right below). Its residents struggle to access the excellent education and health care available just a couple miles away.
Images 10 & 11: Economic Boundaries 2
Natural resources also play a part in economic boundaries. Some people settle in areas rich in resources, like underground oil or fertile soil. These people are more likely to become wealthy, while people who live in areas without many resources stay poor. People are also willing to pay more to live in areas with access to better resources. This might be beautiful views, excellent schools, hospitals or access to shopping.
Boundaries are also recognized on maps. Political maps show human-created boundaries between cities, counties, states, and countries while physical maps show physical features and boundaries such as rivers, oceans, and mountains. Understanding the different boundaries helps us better understand the world in which we live.
Image 12: Political Map of the United States
Image 13: Physical Map of the United States
Review Questions (before you do the exit ticket)
What are the two major boundary types?
What is the difference between these two types of boundaries?
What type of boundary is the Rio Grande River that serves as a divider between Texas (USA) and Mexico?
What type of boundary is the straight line part of the border between the U.S. and Canada?
What are two other boundary types are there?
What is the main difference between physical maps and political maps?
Hans Island has an area of 1/2 square mile and no inhabitants. Since 1978, there has been a border dispute about Hans Island between Denmark (owner of Greenland) and Canada. It has recently been resolved (June of 2022) with a treat between the two nations.
Page updated
Report abuse