Island Vulnerability explores the challenges which isolated geographies face when dealing with risk and disasters by examining the processes which create, maintain, and could be used to reduce their vulnerability. Border regions can demonstrate many risk, disaster, development, and vulnerability challenges which are similar to islands, although some capital cities are border settlements such as Asunción, Lomé, Kinshasa, and Brazzaville. Comparisons and contrasts between islands (of different types) and borders (of different types) require more work.
This Island Vulnerability Borders page provides examples of borders, illustrating that, at times, an artificial line is drawn, irrespective of hazards existing, thereby creating vulnerabilities which previously did not exist and which otherwise would not exist, as well as providing opportunities for cross-border resilience. In cases where the border is not arbitrary--for example, delineated by a river or mountain range--issues of transboundary hazard, vulnerability, risk, and disaster still emerge. A river might flood both banks of a river with a similar hazard, but a disaster might occur on one bank but not the other indicating different vulnerabilities and different resilience needs.
The illustration of a border here does not imply any comment on, support for, or refutation of any disputes.
Austria - Liechtenstein

Austria - Liechtenstein border checkpoint with customs officials, looking from Liechtenstein into Austria.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003)

Austria - Liechtenstein border checkpoint with the potential for customs officials, but no one was there.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003)

Austria - Liechtenstein border checkpoint with vicious cows on guard, looking from Austria into Liechtenstein (above) and the border markers (below).
(All photos copyright Ilan Kelman 2003)


Austria - Liechtenstein border checkpoint with vicious plants and stones on guard, looking from Liechtenstein into Austria (above) and the border markers (below).
(All photos copyright Ilan Kelman 2003)

Austria - Slovakia

Stripes: Looking across Austrian fields towards Slovakia's capital, Bratislava.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2005)

Looking from Slovakia into Austria with the stone monument and signs marking the border. The legs of two soldiers walking towards me are visible. They told me to stay on the Slovak side, but I explained that I was walking from Slovakia into Austria. They requested my passport, glanced at each stamp in it, and then watched me photographing the border until I wandered over to the Austrian customs checkpoint.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2005)

Looking from Austria into Slovakia with the stone monument marking the border.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2005)

Looking along the Austria - Slovakia border marked by the stone with the red top.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2005)
Austria - Switzerland

Austria - Switzerland border, marked on the south side of the bridge over the River Rhine.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003)

Austria - Switzerland border, marked on the north side of the bridge over the River Rhine.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003)

Austria - Switzerland border, looking along the River Rhine.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2003)
Belgium - Netherlands

Belgium - Netherlands border in Baarle.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

Relax across the Belgium - Netherlands border, marked by the darker stones, in Baarle.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

A car parked across the Belgium (on left) - Netherlands (on right) border in Baarle.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

A plaque along the Belgium (on the left) - Netherlands (on the right) border at Baarle.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

The Belgium (on right) - Netherlands (on left) border in Baarle, marked by the metal circles down the middle of the road.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

The Belgium (on right) - Netherlands (on left) border at Baarle runs through an art gallery.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

The Belgium (on right) - Netherlands (on left) border at Baarle runs through an art gallery.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)
Bulgaria - Romania

Looking along the border with Bulgaria on the left and Romania on the right, at the border crossing between Durankulak, Bulgaria and Vama Veche, Romania.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)

Looking at a border post with Bulgaria on the right and Romania on the left, at the border crossing between Durankulak, Bulgaria and Vama Veche, Romania.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)

Top-down view of the same border post in the previous photo.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)

And the same border post again looking from Romania into Bulgaria.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)

Looking at a border post with Bulgaria on the left and Romania on the right, at the border crossing between Durankulak, Bulgaria and Vama Veche, Romania.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)

Top-down view of the same border post in the previous photo.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)

And the same border post again looking from Bulgaria into Romania.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)

Looking from Vama Veche, Romania across the fields to Bulgaria where a brush fire was burning.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2019)
Canada - U.S.A.

Canada - U.S.A. border at Niagara Falls, with New York on the left and Ontario on the right.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2008)

Canada - U.S.A. border underneath the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls: Looking from Ontario across to New York.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2008)

Canada - U.S.A. border on the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls: the line between the different concretes delineates the border, with New York on the bottom (with the grate) and Ontario at the top.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2008)

A light pole marking the Canada - U.S.A. border on the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls. From the Canadian side, it cost fifty cents (in either currency) to walk onto the bridge! But it was free from the American side.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2008)

Canada - U.S.A. border on the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2008)

Canada - U.S.A. border on the Rainbow Bridge, Niagara Falls.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2008)

Canada - U.S.A. border at the St. Clair River with Ontario on the left and Michigan on the right.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2006)

Canada - U.S.A. border looking across the south end of Lake Huron from Ontario into Michigan.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2006)

Canada - U.S.A. border, looking across the St. Lawrence River from Wolfe Island, Ontario to New York.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2009)

Canada - U.S.A. border, looking across the St. Lawrence River from Wolfe Island, Ontario to New York.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2009)

Canada - U.S.A. border at Hill Island in the Thousand Islands. Looking from Ontario to New York (above) and from New York to Canadian customs and immigration in Ontario (below)
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2009)

China - Hong Kong

Looking towards China from Hong Kong from Lok Ma Chau station.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)

The pedestrian crossing point between China and Hong Kong in Lok Ma Chau station as viewed from Hong Kong.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)

The bridge of San Sham Road between China and Hong Kong, seen from Hong Kong.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)

The bridge of San Sham Road between China and Hong Kong, seen from Hong Kong.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)

Looking along the railway tracks from Hong Kong into China at Lo Wu station.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)
China - Macau

Immigration checks on the north side of Macau for entering into China.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)

Looking from Sun Yat Sen park in Macau towards Zhuhai Railway Station.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)

Looking from Sun Yat Sen park in Macau towards China.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)

Looking from Barra, Macau into China.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2016)
France - Germany

France - Germany border marked by white lines in the road, looking from Germany towards France.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)

France - Germany border marked by white lines in the road, looking from France towards Germany.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)

Looking south along the France - Germany border marked by the River Rhine.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)

Looking north along the France - Germany border marked by the River Rhine.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)
France - Monaco

France - Monaco border looking from Monaco into France. The car straddles the border.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2009)

France - Monaco border looking from France into Monaco.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2009)

Looking at the France - Monaco border with France on the right and Monaco on the left.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2009)

France - Monaco border, looking from France down the steps towards Monaco.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2009)
France - Switzerland

A closed checkpoint of the Switzerland - France border looking from France towards Switzerland.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)

After having crossed the closed checkpoint of the Switzerland - France border, looking from Switzerland towards France.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)

Switzerland - France border with customs.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)

A ditch marking the Switzerland - France border, looking from France towards Switzerland.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)
Germany - Poland

Bridge over the Oder River looking from Küstrin-Kietz, Germany into Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

Bridge over the Oder River looking from Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland into Küstrin-Kietz, Germany.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

Viewing the bridge connecting Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland (right) and Küstrin-Kietz, Germany (left).
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

On the bridge connecting Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland (left) and Küstrin-Kietz, Germany (right).
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

Looking across Oder River and along the bridge from Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland to Küstrin-Kietz, Germany.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

Looking across the Oder River from Küstrin-Kietz, Germany into Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

Looking across the Oder River from the fortress at Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland into Küstrin-Kietz, Germany.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

Looking across the Oder River from a Polish border marker at Kostrzyn nad Odrą to a German border marker at Küstrin-Kietz.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)

Looking across the Oder River from a German border marker at Küstrin-Kietz towards Kostrzyn nad Odrą, Poland.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2023)
Hungary - Slovakia

Standing on the border on the bridge over the Danube River with Hungary on the left and Slovakia on the right.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)

Cycling on the border from Esztergom, Hungary on the right to Štúrovo, Slovakia on the left.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)

Relaxing in Esztergom, Hungary while contemplating Štúrovo, Slovakia across the Danube River.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)

The view from near the basilica of Esztergom, Hungary across the Danube River to Štúrovo, Slovakia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)

Looking from Prímás/Primate Island beside Esztergom, Hungary across the Danube River to Štúrovo, Slovakia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)

Looking at Prímás/Primate Island beside Esztergom, Hungary across the Danube River from Štúrovo, Slovakia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)

Viewing the basilica of Esztergom, Hungary from the end of the bridge in Štúrovo, Slovakia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)

Viewing the basilica of Esztergom, Hungary from the Danube River promenade of Štúrovo, Slovakia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2022)
Latvia - Lithuania

Looking from Lithuania into Latvia from the Vilnius-Riga bus.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

A building in Lithuania at the border, with Latvia in the background.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

The fields of Latvia change to the fields of Lithuania across the River Mūša.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

Looking across the Klykolių tvenkinys at Klykoliai from Lithuania into Latvia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

Looking along the border with Lithuania on the right and Latvia on the left.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

Lithuania on the right, Latvia on the left.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

Driving in Lithuania with Latvia on the left.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

Looking from Lithuania into Latvia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)

Looking from Latvia into Lithuania.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2018)
Malaysia - Singapore

Looking from Woodlands, Singapore to Johor, Malaysia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2013)

The apartment buildings of Singapore as seen from Johor, Malaysia.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2013)

On board a bus in Malaysia, looking down at the causeway that crosses into Singapore.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2013)

The Malaysia-Singapore border on the Woodlands-Johor causeway.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2013)
France - Germany - Switzerland

France - Germany - Switzerland Triple Point looking from France towards the German-Swiss border.
(Copyright Ilan Kelman 2002)
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