When we think about the border between two countries, we usually imagine a fence, border guards, cameras, and a long line of cars and definitely nothing original or unusual... But in reality, borders can run right across a beach, between houses, through a bike path, or even in places where people casually walk around and feed birds, and sometimes they can even look terrifying! We put together a collection of some of the most interesting borders around the world - these are places everyone should see and maybe even visit in person, why not?

Mexico - U.S.: Two Completely Different Cities Living Literally Next To Each Other

The border between Mexico and the U.S. is one of the most famous in the world but it is especially impressive where Tijuana and San Diego sit right next to each other. In the photos, you can clearly see the contrast: on one side is densely built-up Tijuana, and literally across the border is San Diego in the U.S. It feels like two completely different cities were simply placed next to each other, with a line drawn between them. 

@SFC Gordon Hyde/Public Domain

And the most amazing part is that when you look at the pictures from above, you can really see just how close these two completely different worlds are to each other...by the way, in some places Mexican illegal immigrants even cross this border directly under the barbed wire...

South Korea - North Korea: A Border That Makes You Feel A Little Uneasy...

The border between South and North Korea is located in the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ, and looks nothing like an ordinary international crossing. Here, the border looks stirring, while the area around Panmunjom is home to the famous blue buildings where negotiations between the two sides once took place. 

@ Ahn Young-joon/AP/picture alliance

In 2019, this place looked especially surreal: South Korea on one side, North Korea on the other, and literally just a few meters of space between them... And although there is supposedly no danger there now, the history of this place alone makes it one of the most tense borders on the planet.

Belgium - Netherlands: When The Border Runs Right Through Your Walk

But things are much more fun here. In the Belgian town of Baarle-Hertog and neighboring Dutch Baarle-Nassau, the border is so unusual that it literally crosses streets, houses, and sidewalks. In some places, it is marked with special lines and signs, so a person can walk along a path and literally find themselves in another country within a few seconds. 

@Thierry Monasse / Getty Images

No strict border guards, passport control, or huge fences - you are simply riding your bike and suddenly crossing an international border. Isn’t that cool?

Georgia - South Ossetia: Even Cows Have To Deal With The Border

The situation with South Ossetia remains politically disputed: most countries in the world, including the United Nations, consider it part of Georgia, while the territory itself is under the de facto control of the South Ossetian authorities with Russian support. And sometimes completely unexpected participants appear in photos of this border - for example, two cows that ended up on opposite sides of the border fence...

@Shakh Aivazov / AP

Of course, they probably do not care about politics or international law but it looks as if even they have to think about where to graze...

Israel - Palestine: A Border That Is Especially Noticeable From Above

The photo shows two towns near the West Bank - one Israeli and one Palestinian. They may seem to be quite close to each other but between them runs a border that has a major impact on the lives of people on both sides... behind the ordinary houses and roads is a complicated system of fences, checkpoints, and different rules. 

@AP Photo/Jerome Delay

And that is exactly what makes this border look so unusual - visually, the towns can be almost next-door neighbors but in reality there is a huge divide and hostility between them.

Germany - Poland: A Border Right On The Beach!

The island of Usedom is located partly in Germany and partly in Poland, and the border runs right across the island. So you can walk along the beach path and literally cross from one country into another, without any huge border structures around you. The border is marked by special posts: a red-and-white one on the Polish side and a black-red-yellow one on the German side. 

@Jens Büttner/picture alliance via Getty Images

It looks pretty funny: you are walking along the beach, with the sea, sand, and tourists all around you, and suddenly an official international border appears right in the middle of it all...so you can sunbathe in one country for half the day and in another for the other half - pretty cool!

Ireland - Northern Ireland: The Border You Can Almost Miss

The border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, looks surprisingly unremarkable in many places. There is no feeling of a classic border with huge gates and strict checkpoints. One noticeable feature is a former customs post, which reminds people that crossing this line once looked very different. 

@Charles McQuillan / Getty Images

Today, a person can drive along the road and barely notice the moment when one country ends and another begins. And that little detail is exactly what makes this border so unusual!

Mexicali - Calexico: The Border Crossed By A River

The Colorado River flows from the U.S. into Mexico but near the American city of Calexico and the Mexican city of Mexicali, its original path was changed. The Morelos Dam is located right near the border, and the water is directed through a system of structures that are also used for agriculture. 

@RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

So the result is a pretty unusual situation: the natural river is still there but its original route has been significantly changed by people! And the border does not simply divide the countries but becomes part of a huge water-management system that is important to both countries!

Italy - Vatican City: A Country Inside A City

Vatican City is one of the most unusual examples of a border because it is an independent country covering only about 49 hectares and completely surrounded by Rome. Vatican City's independence from Italy was established in 1929, and the head of state is the Pope. 

@Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty Images

At the same time, there are obviously no kilometers of fences between the two countries here. You can walk around Rome, turn a corner - and suddenly find yourself in another country. And sometimes the border looks so ordinary that people casually walk around nearby and even feed pigeons and seagulls.

Colombia - Venezuela: The Bridge That Ended Up Closed In The Middle Of An International Border

The border between Colombia and Venezuela has looked very different over the years because of tensions between the two countries. In 2015, it was closed to most people, with only limited pedestrian crossings allowed, while full traffic through some crossings resumed only in 2022. And this is exactly the international Simon Bolivar Bridge seen in the photo: on one side is the green territory of Colombia, and right across the bridge is densely populated Venezuela. 

@getty

An even stranger-looking international bridge was Tienditas, which at one point was literally blocked with containers. So basically, a huge bridge was built to connect two countries, and then containers were used to do exactly the opposite.

Dominican Republic - Haiti: The Border Where The Line Starts Long Before The Gates

The island of Hispaniola is divided between two countries - the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and the border between them is especially impressive when seen from above. On one side is the Dominican city of Dajabon, while on the other is Haitian territory, where huge crowds often gather around the border gates. Because of the unstable situation in Haiti, the Dominican Republic increased border security and even closed the border market located in the area. 

@Erika Santelices/afp/AFP via Getty Images

So the same border can look completely different from the two sides: for some, it is an ordinary crossing point, while for others, it is a place where huge crowds gather every day.

Ecuador: You Can Cross The Border Right In The Middle Of A Match!

This border exists more in a geographical than a political sense. The equator runs along zero degrees latitude and divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. But in Ecuador, they decided to turn this geographical feature into actual entertainment. In 2019, Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev played an exhibition tennis match at the Mitad del Mundo monument, with part of the court located on opposite sides of the equator line.

@Agencia Press South / Getty Images

So literally, you could watch tennis while standing with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere. Now that is a border that would be pretty hard to recreate anywhere else.

Finland - Norway - Sweden: The Point Where Three Countries Meet

Usually, a border is a line between two countries but sometimes three countries meet at one point. That is exactly what happens in northern Scandinavia, where Finland, Norway, and Sweden meet. The place is called the Three-Country Cairn and is marked with a special border monument. It is known as a tripoint, where the territories of three countries meet at the same time. 

@getty

And this particular landmark is considered the northernmost point in the world where the borders of three countries meet. So it gives tourists a pretty funny opportunity: within a few seconds, you can literally be in three countries at once.

U.S. - Canada: The Border With A Peace Arch

Today, the border between the U.S. and Canada looks pretty peaceful in many places but these countries actually went to war with each other in the past. One reminder of that history is the unusual Peace Arch, located directly on the border near Blaine, Washington. The arch literally stands on the line between the two countries and is decorated with the flags of both. 

@Elaine Thompson / AP

Today, it is more of a symbol of friendship and peace but relations between the neighbors were once far from peaceful. And there is something pretty symbolic about the fact that today, on the site of a historic border, there is a huge arch through which people look not at a potential enemy but at a neighboring country.

China - Vietnam: Two Countries Divided Right In The Middle Of A Waterfall!

Some borders run along roads, rivers, or mountains but here nature decided to make things much more beautiful. Ban Gioc - Detian Falls are located directly on the Quay Son River, which runs between China and Vietnam. The two cascades are so close to the border that the waterfall itself essentially becomes part of the international boundary. 

@getty

The Chinese side is located in Guangxi Province, while the Vietnamese side is in Cao Bang Province. The result is an incredible picture: instead of a concrete wall or border fence, the boundary here is formed by rocks, water, and one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in the region.

East And West Germany: The Border That No Longer Exists

Germany was once divided into two countries - West Germany and East Germany, with one of the most famous borders of the Cold War running between them. The Berlin Wall became its main symbol but the system of division existed far beyond Berlin. 

@Bodo Schackow/picture alliance via Getty Images

After Germany was reunified in 1990, most of the former border structures disappeared but some sections of the wall and other parts of the old border were preserved as historical monuments. For example, in Thuringia, you can see a fragment of the former border that is now part of a museum. So a place that once literally divided people now tells tourists about that period of history.

Colombia - Venezuela: The Bridge That Was Blocked With Containers...

Sometimes a border looks especially strange when countries are trying to stop people from crossing it. In August 2022, the Tienditas International Bridge between Colombia and Venezuela was literally blocked with huge containers. 

@Edinson Estupinan/AFP via Getty Images

Instead of normal traffic moving across the bridge, people saw a long line of metal structures physically blocking the way. From above, it looks almost surreal: a huge international bridge is standing right in front of you but you cannot cross it because someone placed containers right in the middle of the road.

Belgium - Germany - The Netherlands: The Point Where Three Countries Meet

Here is another place where you can literally find yourself in three countries within just a few steps. Germany is on the left, the Netherlands is in the middle, and Belgium is on the right, with all three borders meeting at the top of the Vaalserberg hill. 

@Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A special stone boundary marker stands here to mark this unusual point. So a simple walk around the hill can turn into a little international trip - one moment you are in one country, and a few seconds later, you are standing right next to two others.

Nepal - China: A Border Right On Top Of Mount Everest

Sometimes a border between countries does not run along a fence, road, or river but literally across the top of the highest mountain on the planet. Mount Everest sits on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, so climbers who make it to the summit literally find themselves between two countries. So it turns out that a person can stand with one foot on one side of the border and the other on the other side! Pretty cool! 

@Ozkan Bilgin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

By the way, Everest is not only surprising because of this..it turns out the mountain continues to grow by a few millimeters every year because of the movement of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, can you imagine?

Iran - Iraq: Everything May Look Calm... But The History Here Is Completely Different

At first glance, this is simply a border crossing between Iran and Iraq but this border has a very complicated history. Relations between the two countries have gone through both peaceful periods and serious conflicts, and in the 1980s, one of the bloodiest wars of the 20th century - the Iran-Iraq War - was fought here. 

@Husseain Faleh/AFP via Getty Images

The photo shows the Shalamcheh crossing in August 2022, when Iran reopened the border after clashes and unrest in Baghdad led to violence. Today, this border is used not only by local residents and traders but also by pilgrims, since Iraq is home to important Shia holy sites that are visited by millions of people from Iran every year.

Austria - Germany - Switzerland: A Border That Disappears Right In The Middle Of A Lake

Lake Constance, which is more commonly called Bodensee, touches the shores of three countries at once - Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. And here the border looks nothing like what we are used to imagining: no huge fences, just water, boats, and mountains on the horizon. 

@Felix Kaestle/picture alliance via Getty Images

Every year in May, when the official swimming season begins, boats from all three countries gather on the lake and form a star shape. The swimming season here usually lasts from May to September. The lake also has a funny feature: the question of exactly where the borders of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland run across the water has historically been far from simple and has caused a lot of disputes, which is why Lake Constance is often called one of the most unusual border areas in Europe.

Sonora-Arizona: The Wall That Became A Symbol Of An Entire City

Yuma, Arizona, is one of the most well-known places on the U.S.-Mexico border, and the local border has become so recognizable that its photos regularly appear in news reports around the world. In 2019, the mayor of Yuma even declared a state of emergency because of the large number of migrants crossing the border from the Mexican state of Sonora. 

@Getty Images

In the photo, people are standing in a long line waiting to be processed by U.S. border officials in May 2022. Interestingly, Yuma is located in the middle of a desert region where temperatures can rise above 40 degrees Celsius in summer, so conditions can be especially difficult for people trying to cross the border on foot.

Israel - Lebanon: Behind An Ordinary Fence, There Is A Big Story...

This photograph, taken in October 2022, shows the border fence between Israel and Lebanon. At first glance, it is just an ordinary metal structure but this is one of the most tense borders in the Middle East. 

@Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

At the same time, in that same year, Israel and Lebanon reached a maritime border agreement, which became an important event in relations between the two countries. And the most interesting part is that it was not just about a line on a map. The agreement concerned maritime territories and natural gas fields in the Mediterranean Sea, so there were also very real economic interests behind this border.

Austria - Hungary - Slovakia: Want To Walk Around Near Three Countries At Once? Sure!

There is a special border monument here, and a recreation area nearby where visitors can simply walk around and see the point where three countries meet. 

@Getty Images

The easiest way to reach this spot is from the Austrian town of Deutsch Jahrndorf. And the funniest part is that all three countries are part of the Schengen Area, so there is no feeling of a strict border crossing here - you can simply walk around and literally be just a few meters away from two other countries. It is almost the perfect place for a photo in the style of “managed to visit three countries in one day.”

Guatemala - Mexico: The Border Thousands Of People Tried To Cross On Their Way To The U.S.

In this photo, taken in October 2018, thousands of migrants from Honduras are waiting for the opportunity to cross from Guatemala into Mexico. Many of them had traveled a huge distance through Central America, hoping to eventually reach the U.S. border. 

@Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images

Such groups are often called migrant caravans - people come together in large groups so they can travel north together. The scale of the crowd is especially striking in the photo: instead of the usual line of a few cars, there are literally thousands of people trying to pass through one border route at the same time.

New Mexico-Chihuahua: Gates In The Wall That Let An Unusual “Cargo” Through

There are places along the U.S.-Mexico border that look completely different from an ordinary border crossing. For example, the Santa Teresa international crossing in New Mexico is also used to transport cattle from the Mexican state of Chihuahua into the U.S. 

@Getty Images

Special gates are built into the border wall here to allow this unusual “cargo” to pass through. It creates a rather funny picture: a huge border structure, security, and a serious international crossing - and right next to it, cows are calmly being moved across the border.

Argentina - Chile: Christ Right On The Border Between Two Countries

In the Andes, directly on the border between Argentina and Chile, stands the huge Christ the Redeemer of the Andes statue. The monument was created in the early 20th century and became not just a tourist attraction but a symbol of peace between the two countries. 

@Getty Images

There is even an inscription on the pedestal in Spanish saying that the mountains will sooner crumble into dust than Chileans and Argentinians break the peace they swore to maintain at the feet of Christ the Redeemer. And the idea of placing the statue here appeared after Argentina and Chile managed to settle a serious territorial dispute.

Portugal - Spain: The Border That Quietly Runs Along A River

Portugal and Spain have experienced conflicts and territorial disputes for centuries but today this border looks much calmer. In some places, the Minho River becomes part of the border, flowing between the two countries. 

@Getty Images

In the photo, a couple is calmly watching the sunset, while an international border runs somewhere nearby. And the funniest part is that in modern Europe, places like this often do not feel like a border at all - you can walk by the water, take photos, and not even immediately realize that another country begins literally across the river.

Morocco - Spain: You End Up Right At The Gateway To Europe

Technically, Morocco and Spain are separated by the Strait of Gibraltar but Spain also has another very unusual piece of territory - the city of Melilla, located right on Morocco’s northern coast. This is where a land border runs between Africa and Spanish territory, and therefore effectively between Africa and the European Union. 

@Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images

The photo shows the Moroccan side of the border in June 2022, just a few days after a tragic stampede in which migrants died while trying to enter Melilla... Here, you can especially see how unusual a European border can look right in the middle of North Africa.

Bangladesh - India: The Fence That Divides Entire Areas

The border between India and Bangladesh is one of the longest land borders in South Asia, and many sections are surrounded by an actual system of fences and patrol zones. In the photo, an Indian border security soldier is walking along the fence near Petrapole - one of the important border crossings. 

@Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images

And in June 2022, the situation here was made even more difficult by severe flooding, which seriously affected people on both sides of the border. In some places, the border runs through areas where people have lived and traded alongside each other for centuries, which makes this huge fence look especially striking.

Pakistan - India: A Border Where You Can Watch A Real Show!

There is a place on the India-Pakistan border where an ordinary border crossing looks more like a real performance. At the Wagah border post, the famous Beating the Retreat ceremony takes place, during which Indian and Pakistani border guards perform synchronized movements, demonstrate military precision, and ceremonially lower the flags. 

@Aamir Qureshi/AFP via Getty Images

The photo shows Pakistani Rangers before the start of the ceremony on August 14, 2022, when Pakistan was celebrating its 75th Independence Day. Tourists come here specifically to watch this unusual spectacle, which has become one of the most famous traditions on the border between the two countries.

Italy - Switzerland: This Border Can Move Because Of Melting Glaciers!

The famous Matterhorn is one of the most recognizable mountains in the Alps, and the border between Italy and Switzerland runs through this mountainous region. But there is an unexpected problem here: because of climate change and melting glaciers, some sections of the border have to be reconsidered over time. 

@Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

The reason is pretty simple - borders in high mountain areas were historically often drawn along watersheds and glaciers, and when ice and snow retreat, the landscape itself changes. So this creates a rare situation where climate change literally forces two countries to clarify exactly where their border runs. And against this whole backdrop, tourists are calmly skiing down the slopes.

South Africa - Zimbabwe: The Border Where Everything Comes Down To One Crossing

There is only one main official road border crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe - Beitbridge. It connects the two countries across the Limpopo River and is an important route for people and cargo. 

@Phill Magaoke/AFP via Getty Images

In the photograph, taken in October 2020, members of the South African National Defence Force are patrolling the fence along the border. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this crossing became especially important because travel restrictions seriously affected movement across the border. And when you look at the photo, you can really see how literally the border runs here - a fence, a patrol, and one official route through which huge numbers of people and goods pass.

Austria - Slovenia: The Border That Was Simply Opened

Another example of a border that looks completely peaceful today, even though there used to be an actual border barrier here. Austria and Slovenia officially opened their border on December 21, 2007, after Slovenia joined the Schengen Area. 

@Hrvoje Polan/AFP via Getty Images

The photograph captures that historic moment: the foreign ministers of the two countries, Ursula Plassnik and Dimitrij Rupel, are preparing to open the barrier at the tunnel border checkpoint. After that, people no longer had to go through the usual border control at this crossing.

Somalia - Ethiopia: The Border That Almost Has Nothing Left...

Sometimes a border between countries depends so much on nature that nature itself literally changes what it looks like. In the town of Dollo on the Somalia-Ethiopia border, the Jubba River used to be an important landmark, flowing between the two countries. 

@Sally Hayden/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

But in this April 2022 photograph, there is almost nothing left of it - the riverbed has dried up and turned into a strip of dry land. The drought in East Africa was especially severe at the time, and the lack of water had a major impact on local people and animals. So this is quite an unusual border: there used to be a river naturally separating the two countries, and now people have to look at a dry riverbed and literally remember where the water used to flow.

England - Scotland: There Is A Border, Even Though Both Countries Are Part Of The UK

At first glance, it may seem strange but there really is an official land border between England and Scotland. And yes, both countries are part of the United Kingdom, so there are of course no passport booths or border guards here but a line between the territories does exist. In this photo, Christian climate activists walk from Cornwall toward Glasgow during the COP26 climate conference in October 2021 and are actually crossing the Scottish border.

@Jane Barlow/PA Images via Getty Images

And it looks pretty funny: people are simply walking along the road, and then they literally find themselves in another country. And it’s pretty cool when the world is this open, without any strict borders!

Laos - Myanmar - Thailand: Welcome To The Golden Triangle!

The place where Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand meet is called the Golden Triangle. Two rivers meet here - the Mekong and the Ruak - and the meeting point of the three countries has long been a popular tourist attraction. In the photo, you can clearly see all three sides at once: the huge golden Buddha statue is located in Thailand, Myanmar can be seen in the background, and Laos is on the right.

@Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images

The name “Golden Triangle” sounds pretty romantic but this region has another history as well...In the past, it was notoriously known for the production and trade of opium, so the name is not only connected with beautiful scenery and three countries in one photograph. Today, however, tourists mainly come here for the views of the Mekong and the chance to literally see three countries at once.

Laos - China: The Border Crossed By A Medical Train

The border between China and Laos looks especially unusual from the air when a train passes through it. In this photo, taken in July 2022, a Chinese medical train crosses the border through a special tunnel on the China-Laos Railway. A medical team from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army arrived in Laos to take part in the “Peace Train-2022” joint humanitarian medical exercises together with the Lao People’s Army.

@Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua via Getty Images

What is especially interesting is that the railway itself has become an important transportation route between the two countries. Instead of the usual picture of a border barrier, here an entire train literally crosses the border, and this time it arrived not simply with passengers but with a medical team and equipment for joint exercises.

Haiti - Dominican Republic: This Place Can Be Clearly Seen Even From Space!

Sometimes you can see the contrast between countries with the help of satellite images! And this is one of those impressive examples! The island of Haiti, or Hispaniola, is divided between two countries - Haiti and the Dominican Republic. And if you look at it from a satellite, the border becomes especially noticeable: Haiti’s territory looks much drier, while the Dominican Republic is significantly greener.

@NASA, Wikimedia Commons

On an ordinary map, it is simply a line between two countries but from above everything looks completely different. The contrast is so strong that you can literally see the border through the change in the color of the landscape. And it makes for a pretty impressive photograph - without a fence, wall, or border crossing, just a huge island and a very noticeable difference on both sides of the border.

Israel - Egypt: Hello From Space!

Another similarly impressive example! . The border between Israel and Egypt is especially easy to see in this photograph from space against the desert landscape.

@NASA, International Space Station

The most unusual thing here is that from above, the border looks completely different from how it does on the ground. No huge signs or barriers - just a thin line separating the territories. And this is one of those rare cases when you can literally look for an international border in a photograph taken from Earth’s orbit.

Brazil - Argentina: In The Middle Of One Of The Famous Waterfalls 

Iguazu Falls look so massive that it is difficult to imagine them as a border attraction. But this is exactly where the border between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones runs. The enormous flow of water is divided into numerous cascades, and the waterfall territory itself lies on both sides of the border.

@Getty Images

It looks pretty spectacular: instead of the usual wall or fence, the two countries are separated by one of the most impressive natural systems in South America. Tourists can admire the waterfalls from both sides, with each country offering its own view of Iguazu. And yes, the international border here looks much more beautiful than most ordinary border crossings.

United States - Canada: A Border Right Across The Floor Of A Library

Imagine that you are sitting in a library, reading a book, while an international border runs right under your feet. That is exactly how the Haskell Free Library and Opera House is designed - a building that was deliberately built directly on the border between the United States and Canada. In the reading room, the border line is marked directly on the floor: Canada is on one side, the United States is on the other.

@Flickr/Tyson Luneau

It is almost the perfect opportunity to joke that a person can read a book in one country while their feet are already in another. The building itself was deliberately designed to stand in two countries at once, so here you really can literally cross the border without leaving the library.

Costa Rica - Panama: A Border Across One Bridge

On the border between Costa Rica and Panama, there is an unusual crossing over the Sixaola River. There is a single-lane bridge here that is used by cars, trucks, and pedestrians at the same time.

@Flickr/Nyall & Maryanne

And it looks pretty unusual for an international border: instead of a huge modern highway, there is a relatively narrow bridge over the river. People and vehicles are constantly moving across it, so at some moments it looks more like an ordinary local road than a place where one country ends and another begins. And the Sixaola River itself becomes a natural part of the border between the two countries.

France - Italy: Isn’t It Romantic?

In this photograph, taken from the International Space Station at around 11:55 p.m., brightly lit cities can be clearly seen on both sides of the French-Italian border. Turin stands out especially clearly in Italy, while Lyon and Marseille can be seen on the French side.

@Wikimedia Commons

The most interesting thing is that the border itself looks almost like a dark line between the brightly lit areas of land. At night, the cities literally illuminate their territories, and from above you can see how one part of Europe ends and another begins - even though on the ground, a person may not notice the moment they cross the border at all. It looks very beautiful and even romantic!

Netherlands - Belgium: A Border That Runs Right Through The Streets

In the town of Baarle-Nassau in the south of the Netherlands, the border between the Netherlands and Belgium is so unusual that you can literally see it on the streets. The territories of the two countries are intertwined so closely that the border runs between houses, along sidewalks, and even through some buildings.

@Jérôme/Wikimedia Commons

To make sure people know exactly where Belgium begins and the Netherlands ends, the border is marked on the streets with special metal pins and lines. So during an ordinary walk, you can literally take a few steps and find yourself in another country - and sometimes you will not even have to cross the road.

Germany - Netherlands: One Office In Two Different Countries!

At the Eurode Business Center, they decided to mark the border between Germany and the Netherlands directly on the floor. A special metal strip runs through the building, showing where one country ends and the other begins. On one side of the building there is a German mailbox and a German policeman, and on the other side there are Dutch ones.

@Wikimedia Commons

But the funniest part starts with the mail. If you send a letter from the German side of the building to the Dutch side, it can theoretically take a whole week, even though the distance between the two points is literally just a few meters. The international border here really is located right inside one building - and bureaucracy, apparently, decided not to stay behind either.

India - Pakistan: Bright Floodlights With An Important Purpose!

This photograph was taken from the International Space Station and shows the border between India and Pakistan. India is above, Pakistan is below, and the border itself appears as a bright orange line.

@ISS Expedition 28 crew/NASA Earth Observatory/Wikimedia Commons

The reason for this unusual glow is quite interesting: India installed powerful floodlights along the border to better monitor the territory and detect attempts to cross the border illegally. As a result, at night the border stands out so brightly against the dark landscape that it can even be seen from orbit.

Iran - Iraq: A Border That Still Holds Traces Of An Old War

In this photograph, taken from the International Space Station, you can see old defensive structures left over from the Iran-Iraq War. In the upper right part of the image, a diagonal line marks the border: Iran is above, while Iraq is below.

@NASA

What is especially striking is that traces of the conflict can still be seen even from space. The desert landscape has preserved the lines of old fortifications, reminding us of a war that lasted for almost eight years - from 1980 to 1988.

Afghanistan - Pakistan: A Border Along The Durand Line

Torkham is one of the major border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is located on the Durand Line - a border that was drawn back in the 19th century and is still an extremely sensitive topic for both countries.

@Wikimedia Commons

A large number of people and goods pass through this crossing, so it is extremely important for trade and movement between the two countries. At the same time, the Durand Line historically divided territories and peoples who had lived on both sides of the border long before it existed, so here the border is not simply a line on a map but part of the region’s very complicated history.

Sweden - Norway: A Bridge And No Complications

The Svinesund Bridge connects Sweden and Norway and is also part of the international border. It runs between the Swedish municipality of Strömstad and the Norwegian municipality of Halden, and there is a line directly on the bridge showing where Sweden ends and Norway begins.

@Wikimedia Commons

It creates a pretty funny situation: you can drive across one bridge and literally cross an international border right in the middle of the road. And there is no feeling of a complicated border crossing here at all - you simply drive across the bridge, look at the markings, and realize that you are now in another country.

Ukraine - Poland: A Border That Turned Into Huge Fish!

There is a place on the border between Ukraine and Poland that looks completely different from a typical border crossing when seen from above. Right on the border fields near Varyazh on the Ukrainian side and Horodysche on the Polish side, huge green fish appeared, literally crossing the border between the two countries.

@luxury/ instagram.com

But the most interesting part is that these are not simply unusual drawings on a field... The giant fish were created by Polish artist and land-art master Jaroslaw Koziara, and the installation was made by planting different types of plants. The artist’s idea was to show how borders created by people can be so conditional: nature and culture do not stop at a line drawn on a map. The installation was created as part of a local land-art festival, and from above it really looks as if two huge fish are calmly swimming right across the international border.