
Only five EU members-Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania, and the United Kingdom-require travelers from other EU states to present a passport or ID card at the border. For example, citizens of the 27-country European Union may travel freely among any of the member states. When neighboring countries have similar wealth and political systems, their borders may be open and undefended. People can usually move freely within their own country’s borders, but may not be allowed to cross into a neighboring country. The borders of four countries divide Africa’s Lake Chad: Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Nigeria.īorders-particularly national borders-affect travel and migration. For part of its length, the boundary between the United States and Mexico follows a river called the Rio Grande. For example, the boundary between France and Spain follows the crest of the Pyrenees mountains. Sometimes, borders fall along natural boundaries like rivers or mountain ranges. Many times, land is parceled out after a war through international agreements. Other times, land is traded or sold peacefully. Sometimes the people in one region take over another area through violence. The government of a region can only create and enforce laws within its borders.īorders change over time. A border outlines the area that a particular governing body controls. They separate countries, states, provinces, counties, cities, and towns. A border is a real or artificial line that separates geographic areas.
