It is generally accepted that the border between Asia and Europe runs along the Ural mountain range, the coast of the Caspian Sea and a number of straits and rivers. The length of such a route is about 6,000 kilometers. There is also an alternative option, according to which the border is drawn along the watershed of the Ural Territory and the Caucasus. To find out which version is true, a historical, geographical overview of the continent will help.
Early performances
From ancient times, people have wondered where the earth ends, what are the parts of the world. About 3 millennia ago, the land was first conditionally divided into 3 areas: West, East and Africa. Ancient Greeks believed that the border between Asia and Europe runs along the Black Sea. At that time it was called Ponto. The Romans moved the border to the Sea of Azov. In their opinion, the division went along the waters of Meotida, including the Kerch Strait between Europe and Asia and the Don River.
In their writings, Polybius, Herodotus, Pamponius, Ptolemy and Strabo wrote that the border between parts of the world should historically be drawn along the coast of the Sea of Azov, smoothly moving tothe bed of the Don. Such judgments remained true until the 18th century AD. Similar conclusions were presented by Russian theologians in the book "Cosmography", dating from the 17th century. Nevertheless, in 1759, M. Lomonosov concluded that the border between Asia and Europe should be drawn along the rivers Don, Volga and Pechora.
Performances of the 18th and 19th centuries
Gradually, the concepts of separating parts of the world began to come together. In the medieval Arabic chronicles, the water areas of the Kama and Volga rivers were listed as the boundary. The French believed that the dividing line runs along the riverbed of the Ob. In 1730, the proposal to draw a border along the basin of the Ural Mountains was put forward by the Swedish scientist Stralenberg. A little earlier, the Russian theologian V. Tatishchev outlined an identical theory in his author's works. He refuted the idea of dividing parts of the world only along the rivers of the Russian Empire. In his opinion, the border between Asia and Europe should be drawn from the Great Belt to the coast of the Caspian Sea and the Tauris Mountains. Thus, both theories converged on one thing - the separation takes place along the waters of the Ural Range.
Some time the ideas of Stralenberg and Tatishchev were ignored. At the end of the 18th century, the recognition of the authenticity of their judgments was reflected in the works of Polunin, Falk, Shchurovsky. The only thing the scientists did not agree on was the drawing of the border along Miass.
Back in the 1790s, the geographer Pallas proposed limiting the division to the southern slopes of the Volga, Obshchy Syrt, Manych and Ergeni rivers. Because of this, the Caspian lowland belonged to Asia. ATAt the beginning of the 19th century, the border was again pushed a little to the west - to the Emba River.
Confirmation of theories
In the spring of 2010, the Russian Society of Geographers organized a large-scale expedition to the territory of Kazakhstan. The purpose of the campaign was to revise the general political views on the line separating the parts of the world - the mountain range (see photo below). The border between Europe and Asia was supposed to pass along the southern part of the Ural Upland. As a result of the expedition, scientists determined that the division is located a little further from Zlatoust. Further, the Ural Range broke up and lost its pronounced axis. In this area, the mountains are divided into several parallels.
A dilemma arose between scientists: which of the broken ridges should be considered the border of parts of the world. During the further expedition, it was found that the correct separation should take place along the banks of the Emba and Ural rivers. Only they are able to clearly imagine the true boundaries of the mainland. Another version was to establish the axis of division along the eastern isthmus of the Caspian lowland. The reports of Russian scientists were taken into account, but they did not wait for consideration by the International Union.
Modern border
For a long time, political views did not allow European and Asian powers to agree on the final division of parts of the world. Nevertheless, at the end of the 20th century, the definition of the official border did take place. Both sides proceeded from cultural and historical concepts.
To date, the axisThe division of Europe and Asia goes through the Aegean, Marmara, Black and Caspian Seas, the Bosphorus and Dardanelles, the Urals up to the Arctic Ocean. Such a border is presented in the international geographical atlas. Thus, the Ural is the only river between Europe and Asia through which the division passes. According to the official version, Azerbaijan and Georgia are partially located on the territory of both parts of the world. Istanbul is a transcontinental city at all due to the Bosporus belonging to both Asia and Europe. A similar situation exists with the whole country of Turkey. It is noteworthy that the city of Rostov also belongs to Asia, although it is located on the territory of Russia.
Exact division according to the Urals
The question of the boundary axis between parts of the world unexpectedly opened an active discussion among the residents and authorities of Yekaterinburg. The fact is that this city between Europe and Asia is currently located several tens of kilometers from the zone of conditional division. Given the rapid territorial growth, Yekaterinburg may inherit the fate of Istanbul in the coming years, becoming transcontinental. It is noteworthy that a memorial has already been erected 17 km from the Novo-Moskovsky tract, showing the border of the parts of the world.
The situation around the city is much more interesting. There are also large water areas, mountain ranges, and settlements. At the moment, the border runs along the watershed of the Middle Urals, so for now these areas remain in Europe. This also applies to Novouralsk, and the Kotel, Berezovaya,Varnachya, Khrastalnaya, and Chusovskoye lakes. This fact calls into question the correctness of the erection of the border memorial on the Novo-Moskovsky tract.
Transcontinental States
Today, Russia is the largest country in terms of border area between Europe and Asia. Such information was announced at the end of the 20th century at the UN summit. There are five transcontinental states in total, including the Russian Federation.
Kazakhstan should be singled out from the rest. This country is neither a member of the Council of Europe nor an Asian counterpart. Republic with an area of 2.7 million square meters. km and a population of about 17.5 million people has an intercontinental status. Today it is part of the Eurasian Community. The jurisdiction of the Council of Europe includes border countries such as Armenia and Cyprus, as well as Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Relations with Russia are defined only within the framework of the agreed regulations.
All these states are considered transcontinental. Turkey stands out among them. It occupies only 783 thousand square meters. km, however, is one of the most important trade and strategic centers of Eurasia. Representatives of NATO and the European Union are still fighting for influence in this region. The population here is more than 81 million people. Turkey has access to four seas at once: the Mediterranean, Black, Marmara and Aegean. It borders 8 countries including Greece, Syria and Bulgaria.
Transcontinental bridges
In total, over 1.5 billion was spent on all facilitiesdollars. The main bridge between Asia and Europe lies across the Bosphorus. Its length is more than 1.5 kilometers with a width of 33 m. The Bosphorus Bridge is suspended, that is, the main fastenings are on top, and the structure itself has the shape of an arc. The height at the central point is 165 meters. The bridge is not picturesque, but it is considered the main intercontinental symbol of Istanbul. About 200 million dollars were spent on the construction by the authorities. It is worth noting that pedestrians are strictly forbidden to climb the bridge in order to exclude cases of suicide. Travel for transport paid.
You can also highlight the border bridges in Orenburg and Rostov.
Transcontinental commemorative signs
Most of the obelisks are located in the Urals, Kazakhstan and Istanbul. Of these, a memorial sign near the Yugorsky Shar Strait should be singled out. It is located on the island of Vaygach and is the northernmost point of the border between Europe and Asia.
The easternmost coordinates of the transcontinental axis are marked with a sign in the upper reaches of the Malaya Shchuchya River. From the obelisks, one can distinguish monuments near the village of Promysl, at the Uralsky station The ridge, on the Sinegorsky pass, on Mount Kotel, in Magnitogorsk and others.
