----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Meynell" <kevin@...>
To: <BoundaryPoint@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 8:34 PM
Subject: Re: [BoundaryPoint] Shortest border??

>
> >but i would not agree that having an iso diglyph definitively makes a
> >place a real country
>
> ISO 3166-1 doesn't just list countries, but distinct territories as well.
>
> >familiar cases in point are
> >ai anguilla
> >an netherlands antilles
> >aq antarctica
> >as american samoa
> >aw aruba
>
> Many of the national overseas territories on the list (including most of
> the above) are more-or-less separate countries. They are self-governing,
> and only rely on their 'parent' country for defence and external
relations.
> Even then, these aspects are usually conducted in accordance with the
> territory's wishes.
>
> I would agree that there are some questionable inclusions on the list
(e.g.
> Bouvet Island), and the French DOMs should possibly not be on there
either,
> but it's about as definite as you can probably find. The list of reserved
> codes is also quite interesting as it gives away how some countries
> consider the status of their territories (e.g. Spain with the Canary
> Islands, Ceuta and Melilla).
>
> Anyway, back to the original question - can anyone find a border which has
> a total length of less than 1.2 km?
>
> Regards,
>
> Kevin Meynell
>
I am working on one!

I 1973 Canada and Denmark agreed on their continental shelf line, but a tiny
island, Hans Island got in their way. The line is made to the island and
stops and continues from the other side of the island. If they combine the
two points the island will be divided.

My plan is to research into the case and propose to the governments and
politicians to end the case and draw the line.

Apart from being the shortest land border, it will also be the most
northern.

The dispute is described in "Boundary and Security Bulletin, Vol. 5, No. 3".

Jesper