-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: "Natural borders"
Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:04:31 -0600
From: Nat Case <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: Maps, Air Photo, GIS Forum - Map Librarianship
<[log in to unmask]>
Echoing other comments here, and expanding on the fraught definition of
"natural" and "unnatural"
Given that the entities being defined by borders are themselves human
constructs, it might be worth looking at individual state-by-state text
definitions of the borders: are they defined as "a line fron point A to
Point B surveyed at an angle of X° from true north" or "following the
height of land between point A and point B." All boundaries, natural or
unnatural, are based on survey lines which are themselves grounded in
physical landmarks.
The definition of a "natural boundary" is bound up not in its map
representation, but in the legal definition of the boundary itself. An
"unnatural" boundary need not be straight, although that is most
common—cf Delaware's northern boundary, which is an arc section centered
on New Castle. And a "natural boundary" may not necessarily be defined
by an existing physical feature—cf boundaries formed by long-changed
centerlines of the Mississippi River.
Finally, I'd drop coastlines as boundaries altogether. States claim
marine territory, and as often as not this is defined by a straight line
in the middle of a body of water.
Perhaps a better approach would be do distinguish amongst:
- boundaries defined by straight surveyed lines based on an arbitrary grid
- boundaries defined by straight surveyed lines based on physical landmarks
- boundaries defined as following a physically created feature
--
Nat Case, Head of Production
*HEDBERG MAPS, INC.*
Creative Cartographic and Marketing Solutions
hedbergmaps.com <http://www.hedbergmaps.com>
612-706-9686 (direct: 612-548-5672)
1500 Jackson St NE, Suite 314
Minneapolis, MN 55413 USA
*From:*[log in to unmask]
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Christopher Thiry
> *Sent:* Thursday, November 03, 2011 8:29 AM
> *To:* [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> *Subject:* "Natural borders"
>
> All,
>
> I need help answering this email I received from a patron. Thanks in
> advance.
>
> Christopher J.J. Thiry
>
> Map Librarian
>
> Colorado School of Mines
>
> 1400 Illinois
>
> Golden, CO 80401
>
> p. 303-273-3697
>
> f. 303-273-3199
>
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> http://library.mines.edu/
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:*Ashley Pryor
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 02, 2011 5:01 PM
> *To:* Christopher Thiry
> *Subject:* Map Question
>
> Christopher,
>
> I am wondering if you can assist me to compile a statistic for %
> "natural border" for all countries in the Middle East. Natural borders
> for instance would be coastlines, mountain ranges, large rivers, etc. Of
> course sometimes borders are built along these natural boundaries, and
> sometimes they are arbitrary of natural boundaries. I am wondering if
> you have a set of maps that clearly show natural boundaries against
> national borders, or better yet, already have access to a data set that
> has already compiled the percent national border that follows a natural
> boundary. If you have such a data set, any or all regions would be
> beneficial to my research. If you do not know of any particular data
> set, perhaps you have some time to meet with me and let me know which
> map sets would be most helpful in compiling such a statistic.
>
> Please let me know if you have any availability in the next couple of
> days to perhaps discuss.
>
> Thanks so much for your time and your work.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ashley Pryor
>
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