Countries and their Borders Notes with PDF

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Country Areas (Size & Ranking)

Global Area Ranking

  • The descending order of area (largest to smallest) for the specified countries is:
    • Canada > USA > China > Brazil
  • The correct ascending order of area (smallest to largest) for the specified countries is:
    • India < Argentina < Australia < Brazil
  • Among Russia, Brazil, Canada, and France, France is not larger than India in area.

Regional Area Comparison (South Asia)

  • The smallest country in South Asia by area is the Maldives.

Geographical Features (Coastlines & Borders)

Coastlines

  • Among India, Canada, Australia, and Brazil, Canada has the longest coastline.
  • A “country without borders” refers to an island nation.
  • The largest island country by geographical area is Australia.

International Land Borders

  • The country that shares the longest territorial border with India is Bangladesh.
  • China shares a border with Pakistan.
  • China does not share a border with Bulgaria.
  • Israel shares borders with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt.

Borders with the Caspian Sea

  • Countries that border the Caspian Sea are: Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
  • Armenia and Iraq do not share a border with the Caspian Sea.

Regional Geography

Africa

  • The Horn of Africa
    • Definition: A peninsula in East Africa.
    • Countries Included: Primarily consists of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Djibouti. Eritrea is also often included.
    • Countries Excluded: Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Western Sahara, Libya, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Angola are not part of the Horn of Africa.
  • Southern Africa
    • Zambia’s Borders: Zambia shares borders with Tanzania, Angola, and Namibia. It does not share a border with Botswana.
  • West African Coast
    • Countries on the western coast include Liberia, Gabon, and Angola.
    • Botswana is a landlocked country in Southern Africa and is not on the western coast.

Europe

  • Balkan Countries
    • Bordering the Adriatic Sea: The Adriatic Sea borders Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, and Albania.
    • Balkan vs. Non-Balkan:
      • Balkan countries include Slovenia, Bulgaria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, and Macedonia.
      • Austria is not a Balkan country; it is a Central European country.
  • British Isles
    • Great Britain comprises only England, Wales, and Scotland.
    • The United Kingdom comprises England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
    • England covers less than 60% of the total area of the United Kingdom.
  • Scandinavian Countries
    • The core Scandinavian countries are Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
    • Finland is a Nordic country, but is not always included in the strict definition of Scandinavia.

Asia

  • Afghanistan’s Borders:
    • Afghanistan shares borders with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
    • Afghanistan does not share a border with Russia.
  • Myanmar’s Borders:
    • India, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Laos border Myanmar.
    • It does not border Vietnam, Cambodia, or Malaysia.

Americas and Oceania

  • Central America:
    • Central American countries include Panama, Honduras, and Guatemala.
    • Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa and is not in Central America.
  • Oceania:
    • Oceania is a geographical region that includes sub-regions like Melanesia, Micronesia, and countries like Australia.
    • Indonesia is a Southeast Asian country and is not included in Oceania.

Eastern European Borders

  • Lithuania’s Borders:
    • Lithuania shares borders with Poland, Belarus, and Latvia.
    • Lithuania does not share a border with Ukraine.

Current Affairs / Human Geography (Circa 2018)

  • Famine and Conflict: Around 2018, Yemen and South Sudan suffered severe famine and starvation caused by war and ethnic conflicts.

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