Why Only 2 Countries Are Double-Landlocked

In a double-landlocked country you must cross at least two national borders to reach a coastline connected to the world’s oceans.

In this episode we talk about the nuances of landlocked definitions (including why the Caspian Sea doesn’t count) and identify the only two double-landlocked countries: Liechtenstein, surrounded by Switzerland and Austria, and Uzbekistan, surrounded by landlocked “stans.”

We talk about why ports and sea access matter for trade and geopolitics. We also explore the ideas and definitions for landlocked US states (including Nebraska as “triple landlocked”), the furthest points from the sea, disputed borders, recursive islands, and a Google Maps oddity between the Shetlands and Faroe Islands. It's definitely one for maps and geography nerds!

References:

Tom mentions Tim Marshall's book, Prisoners of Geography

Jono also references some of his other sketches: Recursive Islands and Triple Landlocked States

We also reference the previous podcast episode on Antipodes for how so much of the Earth is water.

Episode Summary:

00:00 What Double Landlocked Means

04:17 The Only Two Countries

05:45 Caspian Sea and Definitions

06:53 Recursive Borders in UAE

08:33 Why Ports Matter

12:13 Bolivia and Africa Surprise

13:52 Distance From the Sea

18:02 Landlocked US States Debate

25:23 More Geography Oddities

28:48 Shetlands to Faroes Map Quirk

30:06 Closing Thoughts

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