AP Human Geography: Types of Boundaries

physical boundary

major physical features that serve as a means of separation

superimposed boundary

boundary that has been forced upon the inhabitants f an area to solve a problem and/or conflict

geometric boundary

straight lines that serve as political boundaries that are unrelated to physical and/or cultural differences

cultural/ethnic or consequent boundary

a political boundary that separates different cultures

language boundary

boundary that operates different speakers

religious boundary

boundary that separates different religions

relict boundary

a boundary that ceases to exist, however the imprint of the boundary still remains on the cultural landscape

fortified boundary

physical barrier constructed by the state to either keep people in or out of their territory

maritime boundary

a boundary that follows a country's coastline 12 miles into the ocean

What are some examples of a physical boundary?

the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe, the Rio Grande River between the Mexico and the U.S., the Sahara Desert

What are some examples of a superimposed boundary?

Indonesia/Papua New Guinea, many African countries by European colonists

What is an example of a geometric boundary?

the United States/Canada border

What are examples of a cultural/ethnic or consequent boundary?

the green line in Cyprus because it separates the Turkish and Greeks, Yugoslavia, the Murdock Ethnic Map of Africa

What are some examples of a language boundary?

European countries such as England, France, Spain, and Portugal; the border between Romance and Germanic languages that runs trough Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Italy

What are some examples of a religious boundary?

Northern Ireland is mostly Protestant and Republic of Ireland is mostly Catholic, Israel/Palestine, Pakistan has a large Muslim population and India has a large Hindu population

What are some examples of a relict boundary?

North/South Vietnam, East and West Berlin/Germany

What are some examples of a fortified boundary?

the Great Wall of China, the US/Mexico border, the Berlin Wall