it borders australia crossword clue – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're stuck on the clue "it borders australia crossword clue", you've come to the right place. We provide all possible solutions sorted by letter count, along with helpful explanations to get you back on track.
Solutions for "it borders australia crossword clue" by Letter Count
5 Letters
TIMOR: Often refers to East Timor (Timor-Leste), an independent nation on the island of Timor, northwest of Australia.
9 Letters
INDONESIA: A large archipelago nation to Australia's northwest, with a significant maritime border.
10 Letters
NEWZEALAND: An island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia, sharing a maritime boundary.
14 Letters
PAPUANEWGUINEA: Refers to Papua New Guinea, an island nation north of Australia, separated by the Torres Strait.
More About "it borders australia crossword clue"
Australia, being an island continent, famously shares no land borders with any other country. However, in the context of a crossword clue, "borders" typically refers to nations that share a significant maritime boundary or are geographically very close. The Pacific and Indian Oceans surround Australia, bringing it into close proximity with several island nations and archipelagos.
The most commonly cited "bordering" countries are those that are nearest across a strait or sea, such as Papua New Guinea to the north across the Torres Strait, and Indonesia to the northwest. New Zealand, while further afield to the southeast, is also a prominent neighbor in the Oceania region and might be considered a 'bordering' country in broader geographical terms. Crossword setters often use these broader interpretations to create challenging yet solvable clues.
Understanding the distinction between land borders and maritime neighbors is key to solving such clues. Always consider both the closest geographical entities and prominent regional countries when faced with a clue about a nation's "borders."
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider Maritime Borders: For countries that are islands or continents without land borders (like Australia), think about which nations share a sea boundary or are very close neighbors across a strait.
- Check Letter Count First: If you have some letters already filled in, use the known letter count to narrow down potential answers from our list immediately.
- Think Regionally: Crosswords often lean on regional geography. For Australia, consider countries in Oceania or Southeast Asia that are prominent neighbors.
- Verify with Cross-Clues: Always use intersecting words from other clues to confirm your answer. Sometimes, a seemingly perfect fit might be incorrect if it doesn't align with other solutions.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Australia share any land borders?
No, Australia is an island continent and does not share any land borders with other countries. Its boundaries are entirely maritime.
What does 'borders' mean in a crossword context for Australia?
In a crossword context, 'borders' for Australia typically refers to countries that share a maritime boundary or are geographically very close neighbors, such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, or New Zealand.
Is Papua New Guinea considered to 'border' Australia?
Yes, Papua New Guinea is often considered to 'border' Australia due to the very narrow Torres Strait separating the two nations, which is less than 150 km wide at its narrowest point, making it a prominent maritime boundary.