Borders of Brazil explained
The borders of Brazil are the international borders that Brazil shares with neighbouring countries. Brazil has terrestrial boundaries with nine countries of South America, and with the French Department of Guiana. Brazil has borders with every country in South America with the exception of Chile and Ecuador, totalling 16885km (10,492miles).[1] Brazil has the world's third longest land border, behind China and Russia.
Bordering countries
The lengths of the borders Brazil shares with different countries, running counter-clockwise around Brazil from French Guiana to Uruguay, are listed below:[1]
| Country | Length (km) | Bordering Brazilian states | Border features | Border crossings | Article link |
|---|
| (French Guiana) | | Amapá | Oyapock | Oyapock River Bridge | Brazil–France border |
| | Amapá, Pará | Defined by the Treaty of Limits as the drainage divide between the Amazon basin to the south, and the basins of the rivers flowing north to the Atlantic Ocean | | Brazil–Suriname border |
| | Pará, Roraima | Takutu River, Ireng River | Takutu River Bridge | Brazil–Guyana border |
| | Amazonas, Roraima | | Highway BR-174 near the Brazilian city Pacaraima | Brazil–Venezuela border |
| | Amazonas | Japurá River, Apaporis River, Traíra River, Papurí River, Vaupés River, Içana River, Rio Cuiari | The adjoining Colombian city Leticia and the Brazilian city Tabatinga | Brazil–Colombia border |
| | Acre, Amazonas | Acre River, Javary River, Amazon River, Santa Rosa River, Purus River, 10th parallel south | Brazil-Peru Integration Bridge | Brazil–Peru border |
| | Acre, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rondônia | Paraguay River,, Mandioré Lake, Madeira River, Mamoré River, Abuna River, Acre River | - Wilson Pinheiro Binational Bridge (pt) (named Friendship Bridge by Bolivia) over the Acre River connecting the Bolivian city Cobija to the Brazilian city Brasiléia
- The adjoining Bolivian city Cobija and the Brazilian city Epitaciolândia
- A bridge over the joining the Bolivian city Puerto Quijarro and the Brazilian city Corumbá
| Bolivia–Brazil border |
| | Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná | Paraná River, Itaipu Lake, Apa River, Paraguay River | - A bridge crossing the Apa River connecting the Brazilian city Bela Vista and the Paraguayan city Bella Vista Norte
- The adjoining Brazilian city Paranhos and the Paraguayan city Ypehú
- Itaipu Dam
- Friendship Bridge
| Brazil–Paraguay border |
| | Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina | Uruguay River, Pepiri-Guazu River, San Antonio River, Iguazu River, Iguazu Falls | - Tancredo Neves Bridge
- Integration Bridge
- Paso de los Libres – Uruguaiana International Bridge
- The adjoining Argentinian city Bernardo de Irigoyen and Brazilian city Dionísio Cerqueira
- An unnamed bridge over the San Antonio River linking the Brazilian city Santo Antônio do Sudoeste and the Argentinian city San Antonio
| Argentina–Brazil border |
| | Rio Grande do Sul | Chuí Stream, Highway 19, Lagoon Mirim, Jaguarão River, San Luis River, Quaraí River | - Baron of Mauá International Bridge
- The adjoining cities of Chuí (on the Brazilian side) and Chuy (on the Uruguayan side)
- The Brazilian and Uruguayan cities named Aceguá
- The adjoining Uruguayan city Rivera and Brazilian city Santana do Livramento
| Brazil-Uruguay border | |
Brazil's coastline with the Atlantic Ocean is 7,491 km, which is more than twice the length of its border with Bolivia, the longest land border.[1]
Border disputes
With Bolivia
With Uruguay
- A triangular region, named Rincão de Artigas in Portuguese, is controlled by Brazil and claimed by Uruguay. The dispute is due to a disagreement as to where a stream known as Arroyo de la Invernada begins and where it ends.
- Brazilian Island, a river island at the junction of the Quaraí River and the Uruguay River on the border between Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay is claimed by both Uruguay and Brazil. Brazil has de facto control of it.
Water falls
With many of Brazil's borders defined by rivers, there are several water falls along the border. The most notable border water falls include the Iguazu Falls on the border with Argentina and Orinduik Falls on the border with Guyana.
Until 1982, the border with Paraguay contained the Guaíra Falls. The falls were submerged following the construction of the Itaipu Dam.[2]
Triple points
.With 10 bordering countries forming a single incomplete ring around Brazil, the borders of Brazil include 9 triple points (also called tripoints) in which the borders of three countries join at a single point. A few of the triple points are notable:
The tripoint of Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. The marker was established by the British-Venezuelan Boundary Commission in 1905 following the 1899 Arbitral Award. Venezuela has since revived its claim to the disputed territory.
The tripoint of Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.
The tripoint of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.
The tripoint of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Due to a border dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over the river island, the exact position of the tripoint is in dispute.
Notes and References
- Web site: Brazil. CIA - The World Factbook.
- Web site: Farewell, Seven Falls. Glenn. Switkes. 2008-03-14. 2010-03-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20100121063123/http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/blog/glenn-switkes/farewell-seven-falls. 2010-01-21. live.
