These Strange Borders Will Make You Question Everything You Thought You Knew About Geography

1. Austria and Slovenia

Border: Kepa Mountain Area: 330 km* Est. Gross Domestic Product: $68.108 billion (Slovenia) / $613 billion (Austria)*

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Situated on the border between Slovenia and Austria, Kepa Mountain provides a unique experience for those who like to stroll on top of a natural boundary. With its majestic climb, this Alpine peak—also called Mittagskogel in Austria—allows trekkers to cross the border between two nations while taking in breath-taking scenery. Austria and Slovenia (imgur/Pinterest) The peak of the mountain acts as a calm gathering place, in contrast to the border-defining past wars that have defined Europe. It represents the harmony that unites Slovenia and Austria, united by their shared appreciation of the natural world.

2. The US and Russia

Border: Diomede Islands Area: 3.8 km* apart at their closest point Est. Gross Domestic Product: $4.148 trillion (Russia) / $27.36 trillion (USA)*

One of the most remarkable geographical contrasts between the United States and Russia is the Diomede Islands in the Bering Strait. The Russian territory of Big Diomede and the Alaskan territory of Little Diomede are divided not only by the International Date Line, which separates them by 21 hours, but also by a distance of only 2.4 miles (3.8 kilometers) of freezing waters. United States and Russia @Google/Pinterest Because of their closeness, the American island offers a unique phenomenon in which people can literally look into "tomorrow." The islands serve as a reminder of the natural world's apathy to human geopolitical constructs as well as a tangible depiction of the "Ice Curtain" from the Cold War era.