Bizarre Borders
-
Spain in Africa?
When you think of Spain, some things that may come up are soccer, or as they would call it futbol, flamenco dancing, and Paella. When we think of where Spain is geographically, we point directly to Europe and its influential culture on European society. Spain is transcontinental, with land in Europe and Africa. The three…
-
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was one of the most prominent and longest-lasting empires in history. At its height, the empire stretched from present-day Morocco to bordering Qatar. It also reached as far north as Ukraine and Hungary. Spanning about 2,000,000 square miles and with a population of, at its peak, 32 million, the Ottoman Empire’s influence…
-
Timor-Leste (East Timor)
Situated on the tiny island of Timor between the Timor and Banda Seas lies a 5800-square-mile plot of land named Timor-Leste. It’s possible you’ve never even heard of this country, as its influence isn’t very powerful on the global scene, but its rich culture and history are worth diving into. During the 16th century, the…
-
The Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in History, encompassing, at its height, almost nine and a half million square miles of land. About 16% of the earth’s land belonged to one of the most fierce rulers of all time, Genghis Khan. His territory spanned from Japan in the east to Bulgaria in the…
-
The Vatican
The home of the Pope and the center of Catholicism. One of the most historical and majestic countries ever to exist. This tiny enclave and independent city-state lie entirely within the city of Rome. Although it’s the smallest country in the world in terms of size and population, its influence is among the best of…
-
Alaska’s Water Area
Being the largest and northernmost state in the US, Alaska holds a mighty reputation. Its numerous mountain ranges, isolated islands, and beautiful landmarks make it the most bizarre state of all 50. Its territory is often disputed and leads to the uncertainty of which country is the third largest by area. In 1867, the territory…
-
Time Zones
Every country on Earth belongs to a time zone. A time zone is an area that observes a uniform standard time for legal, commercial, and social purposes. Generally, the rule for establishing time zones branches off the line of latitude the country is within. Why is this the case? What establishes time zones? Are there…
-
The Enclave of Lesotho
South Africa and Lesotho are two countries located in the southernmost part of Africa. The two countries have a combined area of around 500,000 square kilometers, but one has 15 times the area of the other. South Africa’s borders fully encompass the small country of Lesotho. How did this puzzling and bizarre situation occur? Lesotho…
-
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Armenia and Azerbaijan are two tiny former Soviet countries located between the Black and Caspian Seas in the Caucus region. These countries’ history goes way back, even before the unification of the USSR. There has since been tension continuously building for centuries. The main center of all tension comes from a region between the two…
-
Taiwan’s History
China and Taiwan have one of the most well-known controversies in modern times. Their ongoing saga of battles has perpetuated through the 20th and 21st centuries. This edition of Bizarre Borders takes a trip over to East Asia and analyzes the controversial plot known as Taiwan. I will not go too in-depth with the analysis…
All Things Geography 