A landlocked country is characterized by its position in the world in which borders do not touch large water expanses. This is not about lakes or rivers, but about the seas and oceans that give access to the world basin, to transport shipping routes and other privileges.
All such territories have their present appearance, depending on how the geographical features, the features of the development of fishing, science and other branches of human activity, as well as historical events of different eras, were formed. As a result, there are now 44 states isolated from the sea and / or ocean located in different parts of the world. Let's start with the hot African mainland.
Africa - Leader in Landlocked Countries
Most of the countries that do not have any contacts of their border with water open spaces are in Africa.
Of the 62 African states, 17 (one of them, Azawad, is not recognized by the state) have no contact with the sea. These are quite large countries - Niger, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic,
South Sudan, and relatively small - Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and others. It is here that the largest landlocked country (by population), as well as two following in the list. Apparently, this land loves to surprise with "the very best."
Due to the fact that Africa is the second largest continent, it is not surprising that some (and not one) landlocked country was lost on this continent.
Europe takes an honorable second place in terms of the number of countries without a sea close by
A landlocked country exists in Europe. Rather, not one country, but fourteen states and two additionally not recognized as such (Kosovo, Transnistria), are surrounded only by land.
Compared with similar countries in Africa, European fellows "in misfortune" are much smaller in their territory and can lead the opposite rating -
the smallest states.Asia
The collapse of the USSR contributed to the emergence of huge populated areas far from the sea surf. Landlocked Asian countries, in the amount of twelve recognized and two unrecognized states, also complete the list. Among them: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Bhutan, etc.
South America and two cherries on the cake
And finally, answering the question about which countries are landlocked, let us recall Bolivia and Paraguay, who are in South America in the "imprisonment" of neighboring countries that restrict their access to the ocean coast.
There is no talk of other continents, since Australia and its mainland state, that North America are continents where all countries have access to the sea. In Antarctica, all penguins can also freely, bypassing any posts, come fishing or sunbathing.
Outstanding Elements
Largest landlocked country:
- by the size of the territory - Kazakhstan (2.7 million sq. km); followed by Mongolia (1.5 million square kilometers), Chad (1.28 million square kilometers), Niger (1.27 million square kilometers);
- by population - Ethiopia - 103 million people (data for 2015); the next is Uganda with a margin of 2.5 times - over 41 million people.
Why is it bad that the country does not have its own sea?
Which countries do not have access to the sea, we have already made out. But what is the danger for them? All entertainment, crafts and work related to the sea horizons are available only in other countries with which there are relevant agreements at the state level. Of course, you can come to rest in any other country on a boat, sunbathe on the sand, but fishing will not be available everywhere.
Hindrance to trade. What does it consist of? In addition to transportation by land through the border with all the possible problems on the way, the problem of port congestion is added.
A landlocked country spends more time waiting for deliveries and more money for transportation itself. In addition, you have to fill up a pile of all kinds of papers, wait for shipment much longer than to countries with access to the sea, and you also have to endure the extortion of bribes along the path of land routes. Do you want to drive fast, without delay? Here is the size of our dachshund.
The lack of access to the sea is rightfully considered to be one of the most important problems leading to the economic backwardness of some countries.