Borderlines.
Geography, history and geopolitics.
Award Winning Travel Writing
Borderlines is where ‘Prisoners of Geography’ meets travel blogging. This is Travel Tramp’s geopolitical column.
Learn how geography, politics and history shape the world around, as we answer deep travel questions from the road.
What makes a country a country? What’s the difference between a micronation and a microstate? Why did Transnistria declare independence from Moldova?
You can find answers to all these questions and more as I build a database of the world’s cartographic curiosities and geopolitical oddities.
Latest Border Stories
How Many Countries in Southeast Asia? Everything You Need to Know.
From Brunei and Laos to Malaysia and Vietnam, there are 11 countries in Southeast Asia; here's everything you need to know! "Southeast Asia has a real grip on me. From the very first time I went there, it was a fulfillment of my childhood fantasies of the way travel...
How Many Countries in Asia? Everything You Need to Know.
From Armenia and Azerbaijan to Timor-Leste and Vietnam, there are a total of 50 countries in Asia. Here's everything you need to know. From the frozen tundra of Siberia to the steaming rainforests of Borneo, Asia is the largest and (arguably) the most diverse...
How Many Counties in Ireland? Everything You Need to Know.
From Cork and Wexford to Antrim and Tyrone, there are 32 counties in Ireland (including both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). Here's everything you need to know. Ireland is defined by its political divisions. Divided between the Republic of Ireland (an...
How Many Countries in Central Asia? Everything You Need to Know.
From Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, there are five countries in Central Asia. Here's everything you need to know. When I first set foot in Central Asia after crossing the Caspian Sea by cargo ship from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, I knew instantly that this is a region...
How Many Cities Are in Ireland? Everything You Need to Know.
From Dublin to Belfast there are 11 cities in Ireland (five in the Republic of Ireland and six in Northern Ireland). Here's everything you need to know about how many cities there are in Ireland. Divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the island of...
How Many Cities Are in Northern Ireland? Everything You Need to Know.
With Bangor granted city status in 2022 as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, there are now a total of six cities in Northern Ireland. Here's everything you need to know. As part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations back in 2022, the UK...
How Many Countries are in Oceania? Everything You Need to Know.
From Australia and New Zealand to Tuvalu and Vanuatu, there are 14 countries in Oceania. Here's everything you need to know. Covering millions of square kilometres of ocean and islands in the Pacific Ocean, Oceania is home to a total of 14 countries. Stretching from...
How Many Cities in England? Everything You Need to Know.
With Milton Keynes, Colchester and Doncaster all being granted city status during the Queen's 2022 Jubilee celebrations, there are now 55 cities in England. Here's everything you need to know. How many cities are in England? Make a quick Google search and you'll find...
Is New Zealand a Country? Everything You Need to Know.
Is New Zealand a country? When did New Zealand become independent? Here's everything you need to know about the sovereign nation of New Zealand (and yes, it is a country!). There's an ongoing joke that New Zealand is always left off world maps; that perhaps, it just...
How Many Cities in Scotland? Everything You Need to Know.
With Dunfermline gaining city status in 2022, there are now 8 cities in Scotland. Here's everything you need to know! During Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, Dunfermline became the newest city in Scotland. Dunfermline's ascension from town...
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