At first glance, national borders may seem like nothing more than lines drawn on a map, but their stories are far more fascinating than that. Behind each geographical border lie stories that tell us about our history, the political situation in those countries, and the fates of individuals.
By its very nature, a border both separates and connects; moreover, it subtly shapes everyday life on both sides. The border has numerous symbols and markers that serve as signposts: in some places, soldiers and barbed wire signal conflict between states, while in others, a single sign marks the transition between the two countries.
As a traveler, crossing a national border always holds a sense of excitement, even if, while driving on the highway, we don’t notice anything new upon arriving in the new country. However, there are plenty of regions that offer an amazing visual or cultural experience. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most exciting national borders.
Spain and Portugal
A truly fascinating border is the 720-meter-long cable car connecting the Spanish town of Sanlúcar de Guadiana and the Portuguese town of Alcoutim. If you want to cross from Spain into Portugal, you can glide across the cable car at a speed of about 80 km/h. This can be an exciting adventure rivaling a visit to Wageon Casino.
The starting point is located 100 meters above the water, next to the castle in Sanlúcar de Guadiana, while the terminus is situated 15 meters above the ground in Alcoutim. The ride costs a few euros, and an average of 25–30 people ride it per hour.
After the ride, you can take a ferry back to Spain – though of course, only if you want to, since this charming Portuguese town, much like Mad Casino, is ideal for a little relaxation.
Belgium and the Netherlands
Roughly halfway between Antwerp, Belgium, and Eindhoven, the Netherlands, lie two towns that are about one kilometer from the Belgian-Dutch border – though one could also interpret it as Baarle-Nassau and Baarle-Hertog being the border itself, wedged into Dutch territory.
In fact, it seems as though the two areas form a single town, yet some of the streets and squares belong to Belgium, while others belong to the Netherlands. There is, of course, a historical reason for this, as Belgium seceded from the Netherlands in the early 19th century.
For the townspeople, the location of the border is at least as entertaining as the Wageon Casino. Sometimes, the opening hours of stores vary completely depending on which country they’re located in.
For locals, it’s part of everyday life to shop in stores in the other country, take their children to school in the other country, or live at the intersection of two different tax and legal systems.
In these places, the border does not divide but connects, and it often serves as a tourist attraction as well, since few people can say they “visited” two countries during the same lunch
Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay
One of the world’s most famous tripoints lies between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Two rivers, the Iguazú and the Paraná, mark the national borders.
The Iguazú, flowing westward, separates Brazilian territory from Argentine territory, where breathtaking waterfalls await travelers. As it flows westward, the Iguazú meets the Paraná River, which flows from north to south, marking the border between Brazil and Paraguay.
As a tourist, this magical place is definitely worth a visit; if you’re lucky, you might even see a few rainbows.
Canada and the United States
Canada and the U.S. share a fairly long border. So it’s only natural that several unique places mark where the two countries meet. The best known is Niagara Falls, which straddles the border between New York State and the Canadian province of Ontario; Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side of the border, while American Falls is on the U.S. side.
Instead of this imposing and famous waterfall, however, we’ve included a simpler – yet far more surprising – border in our list: the Haskell Public Library sits right on the border between the two countries; one half is in Derby Line, Vermont, and the other is in Stanstead, Quebec, home to the Mad Casino. The funniest part of it all is that the building was divided in two with a simple piece of sports tape used to tape down a hockey blade.
North and South Korea
The border running across the Korean Peninsula is one of the most heavily guarded areas in modern history. The way the border between the two countries was established is almost absurd.
A so-called Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) runs between North and South Korea. Don’t let the name fool you, though – it’s actually one of the most heavily armed areas in the world.
The Demilitarized Zone, much like Mad Casino or Wageon Casino, is a popular tourist destination where visitors can get a glimpse of what it’s like when just a few meters separate two completely different worlds.