Understanding the Coastline Paradox: Why Measuring Coastlines is Tricky
The coastline paradox highlights the difficulty in measuring coastlines due to their complex, fractal-like nature, where the length varies depending on the measurement scale used. This paradox arises because coastlines are not straight lines but intricate shapes with many features, leading to different measurements by different organizations. The issue has significant implications for international laws and resource rights, as coastal baselines are used to determine maritime boundaries. The paradox underscores the challenge of defining coastlines accurately, as they are constantly changing due to natural factors like erosion and sea level rise.