Grenselinje

Grenselinje is a cartographic and legal concept referring to a line that marks the limit of a jurisdiction, ownership, or control between two entities. On maps it represents the boundary along which sovereignty or administrative authority changes. The term is used for international borders as well as internal boundaries such as counties, districts, or regional borders, and for maritime limits like the delimitation of territorial seas or exclusive economic zones.

A grenselinje is typically not a physical barrier; the actual boundary may be marked by natural features, monuments, fences, or administrative markers, but the line itself is a legal or geographic construct. In practice, the precise course of a grenselinje is defined by treaties, accords, or historical usage; when disagreements arise, states may negotiate delimitation treaties, use arbitration, or appeal to international courts.

Etymology and usage: The Norwegian term combines grense (boundary) and linje (line). In geography, law, and administration, the concept describes where authority or ownership passes from one jurisdiction to another, and it is often depicted on maps and in legal documents. Related terms include grense, grensesone, and several forms of delimitation lines used in multilingual contexts.