Human Geo 8.4 Questions Flashcards
What are the 3 types of boundaries?
- Cultural boundaries follow the distribution of cultural features
- Geometric boundaries are based on human constructs (straight lines, parallels of latitude).
- Physical boundaries coincide with significant features of the natural landscape.
What are some rare cases where religion was used to select boundary lines?
- South Asia, when India was partitioned into 2 states.
- Drawing boundaries between 2 states in Eire. Roman Catholics are 84% of the pop of the 26 counties that joined the Republic of Ireland, but only 41% in Northern Ireland.
-Language is important for drawing boundaries (France, Portugal, & Spain before 19th. Germany & Italy after 19th).
What is Cyprus?
3rd largest island in the Mediterranean, ethnicities: 63% Greek and 24% Turkish. It became an EU member in 2004. When it gained independence from Britain in 1960, its constitution let the Turkish minority have much control over its own culture/ education. But, the ethnicities haven’t been peacefully integrated.
What led to the Turks and Greeks of Cyprus to be geographically isolated?
Several Greek military officers who wanted to unify with Greece took over the gov’t in 1974. After, Turkey invaded Cyprus to protect the Turks. The Greek coup leaders were removed, but the Turkish army stayed. The northern 36% declared itself to be the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 (but only recognized by Turkey). A wall/buffer zone was then constructed and patrolled. Recently, they’re been brought closer (part of the wall was destroyed, and each ethnic group could cross the border).
What are desert boundaries? Where are they found?
Deserts are hard to cross and sparsely inhabited. Desert boundaries are common in Africa & Asia. The Sahara has proved to be a stable physical boundary separating Algeria, Libya, and Egypt on the north from Mauritania, Mali, Niger Chad, & Sudan on south. They’re also in S America.
What are mountain boundaries?
Effective if they’re difficult to cross. Contact between nationalities may be limited or impossible. Mountain boundaries are permanent & uninhabited. They aren’t always peaceful (ex. Argentina & Chile are divided by the Andes, but couldn’t decide the location of the crest. They almost fought a war over the boundary, but US mediators helped them come to a decision).
What are water boundaries?
-Rivers, lakes, and oceans are the most common boundaries. Historically, they offered good protection and a defense point. They are especially common in East Africa. They seem to be permanent, but the position of water may change. The Rio Grande (separates the US & Mexico) has changed a lot. The 2 countries have concluded treaties that restore land affected by the river to the country in control in the original 19th delineation.
What are the 3 types of water boundaries identified by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea?
- Territorial waters: 12 miles from shore, a state may set laws regulating passage by ships from other places.
- Contiguous zone: Between 12-24 miles from shore, a state may enforce laws concerning pollution, taxation, customs, & immigration.
- Exclusive economic zone: Between 24-200 miles, the state has the sole right to the fish and other marine life.
What are some examples of geometric boundaries in North America?
The US-Candada border is based off latitude/longitude lines in many parts. Their boundary was established through treaties between 1783 and 1903 (When the UK still controlled Canada). During the 1840s, many Americans called for the Rockies/Pacific border to be set further north (at southern Alaska), “54-40 or fight,” but the Oregon Treaty settled the dispute peacefully in 1846.
What’s an example of a geometric boundary in North Africa that is a result that is a legacy of treaties among Europeans dividing up Africa?
Chad-Libya border is a straight line drawn across the desert in 1899 by French & British). With independence, Libya claimed the straight line should be pushed south to include the Aouzou Strip, and seized it in 1973. Chad regained control in 1987, and Libya withdrew after the international court ruled in favor of Chad in 1994.
How is the South Pole divided using geometric boundaries?
-It contains the only large landmasses that aren’t part of a state. 7 states claim parts of it: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, & UK. These claims are divided geometrically (following meridians). Some are overlapping/conflicting, and some portions are unclaimed. in 1959, the Antartica Treaty, signed by 47 states, allowed research stations, but no military activities.
What is an example of territorial claims based on differing interpretations of the Law of the Sea?
The Lomonosov Ridge, running 1,100 miles across the north pole region, rising several 1000 meters above the floor of the Arctic Sea, in some places only a few 100 meters below current sea level. Russia & Denmark both claim the Ridge to be an extension of their landmasses.
How can state shape be a centripetal force? Centrifugal force?
- Centripetal: US/Canada outline is part of their unique identities, and their shape can ease internal administration/encourage social unity.
- Centrifugal affects potential for neighbor conflict, and can add to administrative difficulties/exacerbate conflict among people living in different parts of the country.
What’s an example in sub-Saharan Africa of a proruption separating 2 states that would otherwise share a boundary?
Namibia has a 300 mile proruption to the east (Caprivi Strip). When it was a German colony, the proruption caused disrupted communications along South African British colonies. It also gave the Germans access to an important river. Afghanistan also has a long/narrow proruption, created by British to prevent Russia from sharing a border with Pakistan.
Where are landlocked states common and why?
They are common in Africa (15/55 are landlocked). This is a remnant of the colonial era (when Britain/France controlled large regions that were eventually divided into states). The European powers built railroads in their colonial empires to connect the interior of Africa with the sea.
