If good fences make good neighbours, countries on both sides of these 11 biggest fences in the world are the best neighbors ever. These fences are built for various reasons. Some are built to prevent illegal immigration, some to stop drug trafficking and smuggling, while some try to prevent conflict in one country spilling over to another. But when you boil it down to essentials, they are designed to keep one group of people away from another one, just like the highest security prisons in the world.
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Border barriers are nothing new. The most famous one is the Great Wall of China, built to keep those pesky Mongolians away from rich and civilized Chinese lands. Series of fortification totaling more than 13,000 miles in length are considered one of the greatest feats of human engineering. Unfortunately, it did little to stop Mongols and they eventually conquered China.
Another attempt at keeping rowdy neighbours out was Hadrian’s Wall in Britain. Built in just 6 years starting in 122 AD, it stretches 73 miles from River Tyne to Solway Firth, roughly separating today’s England and Scotland. The wall was never really put to the test, as Romans packed up and left Britain some 250 years later, leaving the province to fend for itself as it slides back to barbarism.
Perhaps the most glaring example of influence these barriers have on people’s lives is Berlin Wall. Built in 1961 to separate Soviet-controlled part of the city from Allied controlled one, it was demolished in 1989, after Reagan’s famous speech: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear this wall down!”
In recent years, a number of border fences has gone up across the world. For many, this is a troubling fact, and a sign that divisions among people are reaching critical levels. In almost every case, the country which is on the wrong side of the fence is protesting its construction. Modern barriers face different challenges, like the Egypt–Gaza barrier, which extends some 60 feet underground, to prevent Palestinians from digging tunnels for smuggling. Border fences are often electrified and equipped with security cameras, motion sensors and land mines to serve better their only purpose – keep people separated.
11. United Arab Emirates–Oman barrier
Length: 254 miles
Arabian Desert is quickly getting encroached by barbed wire as oil-rich countries try to separate themselves from their less fortunate neighbors. United Arab Emirates are adding their share of it by the construction of 254 miles of fence along Oman border, in order to prevent illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
10. Indian Kashmir barrier
Length: 341 miles
Built in disputed Kashmir region, this 341 miles barrier is designed to keep armed incursions from Pakistan terrorizing Indian population. Pakistan strongly protested the building of this fence.
9. Israeli West Bank barrier
Length: 430 miles
Built partly along the 1949 Armistice line, Israeli West Bank Barrier is set up to prevent terrorists and suicide bombers entering population centers, according to Israel. Palestinians claim that the fence is an attempt for Israel to solidify its claim on the encroached land and force them out.
8. Iran-Pakistan barrier
Length: 434 miles
After 2007 bombing in the town of Zahedan, Iran decided to erect a fence along its border with Pakistan, in order to prevent terrorist attacks in the future and limit drug trade across the border. In a rare occurrence, Pakistan stated that it doesn’t object the fence. Baloch, tribal people who live on both sides of the fence, do mind, as it creates division among them, but neither of the two governments has bothered to ask them.
7. Uzbek-Kyrgyzstan barrier
Length: 540 miles
Uzbekistan built the fence in Fergana Valley in 1999. Its stated purpose is to prevent terrorist incursions. Since it is built on disputed land, Kyrgyzstan strongly objected its construction.
6. Saudi-Iraq barrier
Length: 559 miles
Built in 2006 to prevent Iraq conflict from spilling over to Saudi Arabia, this barrier, together with the one Saudi Arabia has built along Yemen border, is a part of ambitious plan to completely fence Saudi’s 4,000 miles borders.
5. Chinese-Korean border fence
Length: 879 miles
In an attempt to reinforce its porous border with North Korea and prevent defectors from entering the country, China has built a fence along it. North Korea is building its own fence on the opposite side of the border.
4. Indo-Burma barrier
Length: 1,009 miles
Second Indian fence and number 4 on our list of 11 biggest fences in the world is Indo-Burma barrier. Built as a measure to stop illegal immigrants from Burma, the barrier is over 1,000 miles long.
3. Turkmen-Uzbekistan barrier
Length: 1,056 miles
Turkmenistan’s dictator Saparmurat Niyazov decided in 2001 that country needs more to remember him by something important once he’s gone. As a lasting legacy, he constructed 1,056-mile fence between his country and Uzbekistan. His motives were to prevent illegal immigration and smuggling. Neither Turkmen nor Uzbeks were impressed.
2. Indo-Bangladeshi barrier
Length: 2,030 miles
Third Indian fence on the list is located on Indo-Bangladeshi border. Covering 2,030 miles out of total 2,545 miles these countries share, its main purpose is to stop drug smuggling. Reportedly, there were several clashes between Indian and Bangladesh border forces during its construction.
1. United States–Mexico barrier
Length: 2,087 miles
Number one on our list of 11 biggest fences in the world is United States–Mexico barrier. Once completed, it would stretch from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific coast. The barrier has encountered heavy opposition on both side of the border and at the moment, plans for its completion are on hold.
