landlocked countries

Czechoslovakian tunnel to the sea mapped

August 17, 2025 Alex

The Adriatic Tunnel: When Czechoslovakia Dreamed of Boring Through Austria

Countries without coastlines get the short end of the stick. Switzerland figured out how to make it work, but they’re special. Most landlocked nations spend half their time begging neighbors to let goods pass through. Czechoslovakia was fed up with this by the 1970s, leading to one of the most audacious infrastructure dreams of the Cold War era.

Political maps

January 7, 2016 Alex

Landlocked Countries: When Geography Becomes Your Biggest Challenge

Being stuck without a coastline sounds like a minor inconvenience until you’re trying to run a country. No ports means every single thing you import or export has to cross someone else’s border first. Your economy depends on keeping good relations with neighbors. One diplomatic spat and suddenly your trade routes disappear.