AIA-LENGTH-OF-COASTLINE

Coastline is defined as the boundary where land meets the water and is often known as shoreline or seashore. The Caspian Sea, Dead Sea, and the Sea of Galilee are landlocked and do not grant ocean access, so their shores are not considered coastlines. As such, the coastlines of Russia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Palestine, and Turkmenistan may all be lower than expected at first glance. Because coastlines follow winding paths rather than straight lines, coastline lengths vary significantly depending upon the unit of measurement employed. For example, measuring in 10-mile increments results in a much different and more accurate coastline length than measuring in 100-mile increments (this is often referred to as the coastline paradox).