8 Hotly Disputed Borders of the World

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Images

Map of Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, East China Sea

Map of eastern Asia and surrounding regions with the Kuril Islands labeled in orange off the eastern coast of Russia, between Russia and Japan. The map highlights the location of the Kuril Islands in the northwest Pacific Ocean. An inset in the upper right shows a zoomed-out view of the highlighted area within the larger continent.

Locator map of the demilitarized zone, the Korean peninsula

Map showing Western Sahara along the northwest coast of Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Major towns such as Laayoune, Al-Dakhla, and Bir Gandus are labeled, with a note indicating the territory is occupied by Morocco. An inset map highlights the region's location within northwest Africa.

Antarctic territorial claims

The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities

Map showing Taiwan's location in East Asia, with surrounding countries and regions labeled, including China to the west, Japan to the northeast, South Korea further north, the Philippines to the south, and Vietnam to the southwest. Major cities such as Taipei, Hong Kong, and Macau are also marked.

Groups of adult emperor penguins and fluffy gray chicks stand together on snowy ground in Antarctica, with ice formations and more penguins in the background.

8 Hotly Disputed Borders of the World: Media

Somaliland, the Korean peninsula, Western Sahara—all of these places are home to some of the most hotly disputed borders in the world.

Images

38th parallel

38th parallel

Military vehicles crossing the 38th parallel during the Korean War.

National Archives and Records Administration (541822)

Map of Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, East China Sea

Map of Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, East China Sea

Map showing the location of the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea and...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of eastern Asia and surrounding regions with the Kuril Islands labeled in orange off the eastern coast of Russia, between Russia and Japan. The map highlights the location of the Kuril Islands in the northwest Pacific Ocean. An inset in the upper right shows a zoomed-out view of the highlighted area within the larger continent.

Locator map of Kuril Islands

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Locator map of the demilitarized zone, the Korean peninsula

Locator map of the demilitarized zone, the Korean peninsula

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing Western Sahara along the northwest coast of Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Major towns such as Laayoune, Al-Dakhla, and Bir Gandus are labeled, with a note indicating the territory is occupied by Morocco. An inset map highlights the region's location within northwest Africa.

Map of Western Sahara

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Antarctic territorial claims

Antarctic territorial claims

Several countries have made territorial claims in Antarctica.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Refugio Mariscal

Somaliland

Somaliland

In 1991 the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland, in the northwest part of Somalia,...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map showing Taiwan's location in East Asia, with surrounding countries and regions labeled, including China to the west, Japan to the northeast, South Korea further north, the Philippines to the south, and Vietnam to the southwest. Major cities such as Taipei, Hong Kong, and Macau are also marked.

Locator map of Taiwan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Groups of adult emperor penguins and fluffy gray chicks stand together on snowy ground in Antarctica, with ice formations and more penguins in the background.

Emperor penguins

Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) in Antarctica.

© BernardBreton/stock.adobe.com

Kraternaya Bay

Kraternaya Bay

The summit of a partially submerged volcano forms the outline of Kraternaya Bay,...

Michael V. Propp

sand dunes of the Sahara

sand dunes of the Sahara

Sand dunes of the Sahara desert.

© RosaFrei—iStock/Getty Images

Map showing the East China Sea, South China Sea, and Yellow Sea, highlighting physical features such as seas, islands, peninsulas, and ocean depth contours. The map also marks international boundaries, major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, Taipei, Manila, and Hanoi, and features a locator inset indicating the region's position in East and Southeast Asia.

The East China, South China, and Yellow seas

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Taiwan

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Interactives

The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities

The Middle East: Countries, Key locations, and Major Cities

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.