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They're stored in law. Treaties define borders in (seemingly) unambiguous terms. Meridians, river beds and so. Problems arise when river beds move and everythin
by Bayart 6y ago
They're stored in law. Treaties define borders in (seemingly) unambiguous terms. Meridians, river beds and so. Problems arise when river beds move and everything becomes extremely ambiguous. In the worst case scenario you've got borders defined by older borders of poorly documented feudal holdings and it's up in the wind where the actual border ought to be. So states have to negotiate to redefine them in modern terms.
- tinus_hn 6y agoThe ground itself can move over 5 cm a year due to tectonics.
- selimnairb 6y agoAnd river meanders are doing just that, meandering to and fro, changing (albeit slowly) continuously. Modern borders need to be tied geodetic datums, which has been also mentioned are also constantly changing (although probably more slowly than most rivers) and need to be updated continuously. The new datums coming out of the GRAV-D project will address the need for continuous updating (https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/datums/newdatums/index.shtml https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/datums/newdatums/index.shtml).
- leokennis 6y agoOk…but I’d assume those are pretty hefty law books then? “Follow river such and so, then on that one field of farmer Jones turn left until the tree, turn right and walk in a straight line to that pointy rock, then walk back to the river etc. etc.”?
- thaeli 6y agoYes, this is pretty much what actual "metes and bounds" deeds from several centuries ago look like.