Which of the following is not an example of a geometric boundary?
A North and South Korea
B Chile and Argentina
C Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
D United States and Canada
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. North and South Korea.
A geometric boundary is a political boundary defined by straight lines, often following lines of latitude or longitude, regardless of physical or cultural landscapes. These boundaries are typically drawn based on a grid system, ignoring natural features like rivers, mountains, or cultural factors.
Let’s break down the options:
- North and South Korea (A): This boundary is not geometric. The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that separates the two countries follows a military front from the end of the Korean War and runs across the Korean Peninsula, influenced by both natural and strategic factors. It is not a straight line but a heavily militarized zone shaped by historical and geopolitical factors.
- Chile and Argentina (B): This boundary is mostly defined by the Andes Mountains, a physical feature, but parts of it are straight, drawn by latitude and longitude lines in the flat regions, making parts of it geometric.
- Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (C): Their boundary follows the 141st meridian east, which is a straight line of longitude. This makes it a geometric boundary, as it is based purely on a grid system.
- United States and Canada (D): A significant portion of the boundary between the U.S. and Canada, such as the section along the 49th parallel, is a straight line, making it a geometric boundary. It was established through agreements between the two countries and follows a fixed latitude.
Thus, A. North and South Korea is not an example of a geometric boundary, as it follows neither straight lines nor latitude/longitude markers, but rather natural and strategic contours shaped by political conflict.