International border states of the United States facts for kids
The international border states are states in the U.S. that share a border with another country. These borders can be on land or water. There are eighteen such states in total. Thirteen states border Canada, four states border Mexico, and one state has water borders with Cuba and The Bahamas. Alaska also shares a water border with Russia.
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States Bordering Canada
Thirteen U.S. states share a border with Canada. Most of these are land borders. Some states, like Michigan and New York, have water boundaries across the Great Lakes or other waterways.
Even though Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin don't directly touch Canada, they have customs facilities. This is because they are located along the Great Lakes, which connect to the Canadian border.
How Long are the Borders with Canada?
Here's a look at the states that border Canada, along with how long their borders are:
| State | Neighboring Canadian Area | Border Length |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | British Columbia and Yukon | 1,538 mi (2,475 km) |
| Michigan | Ontario | 721 mi (1,160 km) |
| Maine | New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Quebec | 611 mi (983 km) |
| Minnesota | Manitoba and Ontario | 547 mi (880 km) |
| Montana | Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan | 545 mi (877 km) |
| New York | Ontario and Quebec | 445 mi (716 km) |
| Washington | British Columbia | 427 mi (687 km) |
| North Dakota | Manitoba and Saskatchewan | 310 mi (499 km) |
| Ohio | Ontario | 146 mi (235 km) |
| Vermont | Quebec | 90 mi (145 km) |
| New Hampshire | Quebec | 58 mi (93 km) |
| Idaho | British Columbia | 45 mi (72 km) |
| Pennsylvania | Ontario | 42 mi (68 km) |
States Bordering Mexico
Four U.S. states share a land border with Mexico. This border stretches across deserts and rivers.
How Long are the Borders with Mexico?
Here are the states that border Mexico and the length of their shared boundaries:
| State | Neighboring Mexican State | Border Length |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas | 1,241 mi (1,997 km) |
| Arizona | Baja California and Sonora | 373 mi (600 km) |
| New Mexico | Chihuahua and Sonora | 180 mi (290 km) |
| California | Baja California | 140 mi (225 km) |
States with Water Borders to Other Countries
Besides Canada and Mexico, some U.S. states have water borders with other countries.
Florida shares water boundaries with Cuba and The Bahamas. Alaska also has a water border with Russia across the Bering Strait, in addition to its land border with Canada.
| State | Border Length | Bordering Country |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 1,538 mi (2,475 km) | Russia (water boundary) |
| Florida | Cuba and The Bahamas (water boundaries) |
