Bizarre Borders: These Countries Share Some Seriously Strange Lines

8. The Dominican Republic and Haiti

Border: Massacre River Area: 376 km* Est. Gross Domestic Product: $33 billion (Haiti) / $226 billion (Dominican Republic)* More than merely political boundaries, the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic is clearly drawn into the very topography. Part of this border is named after a historical war, but the Massacre River offers a story of environmental divergence today.

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Dominican Republic and Haiti Copyright: Fran Afonso/Microsoft Aerial pictures show a striking contrast between the deforested expanse of Haiti and the lush trees on the Dominican side. The stark differences in the two countries' environments and socioeconomic conditions are highlighted by this graphic distinction.

9. South Korea and North Korea

Border: Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Area: 250 km* long, 4 km* wide Est. Gross Domestic Product: $48.3 billion (North Korea) / $1.7 trillion (South Korea)* The Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which stretches 250 km across the Korean Peninsula, is rife with watchtowers, landmines, and military personnel on both sides. It is far from being demilitarised. The DMZ, which was created in 1953 as a component of the Korean Armistice Agreement, represents the tension and unresolved situation between the two countries and acts as both a physical and metaphorical border.

Koreas, North, and South ©Michael Day using Wikipedia The DMZ has ironically turned into an area of ecological value, with its undisturbed soil supporting a distinctive biodiversity despite the obvious threat of conflict. The DMZ is one of the most fascinating and complicated boundaries in the world because of the contrast between natural tranquilly and danger.