8 Interesting International Tripoints Worldwide
By The World Geography, 23 May 2012.
The International tripoint is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries meet. There are currently 157 international tripoints (i.e. tricountry points) by some accounts. Usually, the more neighbours a country has, the more international tripoints that country has. China with 16 tripoints and Russia with 11 to 14 lead the list of states by number of tripoints. This is list of 8 interesting international tripoints worldwide.
1. Treriksröset (Sweden/Norway/Finland)
Treriksröset is the point at which the borders of Sweden, Norway and Finland meet. The name can be translated into English as "Three-Country Cairn". This is Sweden's most northerly point and it is the westernmost point of the Finnish mainland (the most westerly point of Finland is on the island Märket). The tripoint monument itself is a yellow dome-shaped stone made of concrete, located about 10 metres (33 ft) out in Lake Goldajärvi.
2. Triple Frontier (Paraguay/Argentina/Brazil)
The Triple Frontier is a tri-border area along the junction of Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil, where the Iguazú and Paraná rivers converge. Near the convergence are the cities of Ciudad del Este, Alto Paraná; Puerto Iguazú, Misiones and Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. This area is near Iguazú Falls and the Itaipú hydroelectric plant.
The Triple Frontier is an important tourist area. Visitors can see the Tancredo Neves bridge, which connects the Argentine city of Puerto Iguazú and its Brazilian neighbour, Foz do Iguaçu. At the convergence of the borders, each of the three bordering countries has erected an obelisk, painted in the national colours of the country in which it is located. All three countries can be seen from each of the obelisks.
3. Dreiländereck (Germany/Switzerland/France)
+%281%29.jpg "Tripoint Basel")
The Swiss city of Basel is home to one of the most spectacular tripoint monuments at the location where it borders Germany and France. Basel’s dreiländereck (literally “3 lands place”) is home to a soaring metal three-sided spiral which bears the flags of the 3 countries. It is located on a quay in the river Rhine, near a restaurant of the same name. The actual tripoint is located just to the north-west, in the middle of the river.
4. Tumba Peak (Bulgaria/Greece/Macedonia)
Tumba is a peak in the Belasica mountains in the region of Macedonia. The peak, 1,880 metres (6,170 ft) in height, lies on Belasica's main ridge. Tumba is notable as the point where the national borders of Bulgaria, Greece and the Republic of Macedonia meet. It is the southwesternmost point of Bulgaria and the southeasternmost point of the Republic of Macedonia. Every August since 2001, an international excursion to the peak is organized under the motto "Balkans Without Borders".
5. Treriksrøysa (Norway/Finland/Russia)
Treriksrøysa - meeting point for the borders of three countries: Finland, Norway and Russia, also the only land-based point where three separate time zones interlock. Crossing into Russia from Norway or Finland if walking around the border post/markings is illegal. It's also illegal to behave in a provocative manner (urinating from either Norway or Finland into Russia, mooning towards border guards on the other side, etc..) in the vicinity of the border, and to photograph with photo objectives over a certain size.
6. Tripoint in Lake Prespa (Albania/Greece/Macedonia)
Tripoint marker: Albania, Greece, Macedonia in Lake Prespa. Picture taken from Greek waters (image source).
Prespa Lake is divided between Albania, Greece and Macedonia. The tripoint in Lake Prespa is close to the point that is halfway between the Macedonian island of Golem Grad and Albanian peninsula.
7. Mount Roraima Tripoint (Guyana/Venezuela/Brazil)
Mount Roraima is the highest tepui plateau in South America. It is surrounded by 400m (1,300ft) tall cliffs on all sides. Its summit area is an impressive 31 sq km (12 sq mi).
Border stone on the tripoint of Venezuela (foreground), Brazil and Guyana located on Mount Roraima (image source)
Roraima is the tripartite border of Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil, and at the moment can only be approached from the Venezuelan side.
8. Tripoint - Oman/Saudi Arabia/Yemen
This tripoint is located in the empty quarter of the Arabian desert [Rub' al Khali]. The exact location is determined by three successive bilateral agreements concluded between 1990 & 2000.
Bonus: African Quadripoint
There is only one place in the world where four countries meet at a single point. You wouldd be hard pressed to find a marker stone for it, as it's in the middle of a river, but the world's only quadripoint is in Africa - between Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Zambezi River at the junction of Namibia (top left), Zambia (top), Zimbabwe (bottom right) and Botswana
(bottom left) (image source)
While many sources claimed that a quadripoint exist in Africa, where the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe come together at the confluence of the Cuando and Zambezi rivers, it is now believed, though still not actually agreed, that two separate trijunctions exist perhaps some 100 meters (330ft) apart.
[More information here and here] [View Google map]
Top image: Germany-Belgium-Luxembourg Tripoint (left) and Italy-Austria-Slovenia Tripoint (right)
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