Political Geography n Location n Capital Cities n Boundaries

Relative Location n Landlocked States are disadvantaged for access to ocean and resources. Some have land corridors to ocean. Eg. Democratic Rep of Congo n Strategic Location of resources in Iraq/Kuwait.

Capital Cities n Seat of government. Often centre of finances, education, health services. n Symbol of national pride. Palestinians say only Jerusalem could be the capital of a Palestinian state. n New capitals can open territory eg. Brasilia

Boundaries n Natural Boundaries- based on natural features like rivers and mountains. Difficult to determine the height of land or the middle of the river for boundaries. n Geometric Boundaries- based on lines of latitudes or longitude of arcs of circles eg. Saskatchewan u Antecedent were laid down before most of the cultural landscape. u Subsequent were laid down after most settlement patterns were developed.

Geometric Boundaries of Antarctica n Disputed mountain (natural boundary)-

Antecedent Boundary n Antecedent Boundary. The 49th parallel of latitude was used for most of the western US/Canada boundary. Transportation links developed around the boundary.

Subsequent Boundaries n Consequent Boundaries-drawn to account for cultural patterns eg. Eire/N Ireland n Superimposed Boundaries- boundaries disregard cultural patterns eg. African states vs tribal boundaries (right) n Consequent Boundaries - drawn according to the cultural patterns present eg. Eire/N. Ireland

Labrador Boundary n Canada u Coast of Labrador belonged to Nf. u One mile from water u wanted interior for resources u Privy Council in 1927 n Newfoundland u Coast was watershed divide u Previous use of “coast” - HBCo u Previous definitions of coast in Africa u decision in NF favour

Maritime Boundaries n Increased importance in c.20. n Islands especially crucial (St. Pierre et Miquelon increases France’s maritime boundary) n United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) widely accepted by n Still disputes of ownership and boundary baselines all over world.

Maritime Boundaries

n Territorial Sea- up to 12 nm, exclusive fishing rights n Contiguous Zone-24nm immigration and sanitation controls n Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ-200nm. Economic advantage for all resources n High Seas-all states of world. Resources are common heritage

Mexican-US border tries to curtail illegal immigration

Canberra, the capital of Australia. A city planned as the centre of federal government

Natural boundaries can pose problems of demarcation….Chile/Argentina

Geometric boundary called Four Corners:Utah/Arizona/Colorado/ New Mexico

Ministates claim 200-mile nautical limit. Gain considerable control of oceans

Azerbaijan has an exclave separated by Armenia.

n Nagorno-Karabakh is 80% Armenian within Azerbaijan. n Armenians are Christians/Azers are Shiite Muslims n Stalin awarded N-K to Azerbaijan n Nationalism became stronger n In Gorbachev’s perestroika N-K lobbied for a 16km corridor to Armenia n Azerbaijan tightened grips on N-K n Guerilla war ever since