Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Crossing an entire country in a straight line

magamig.github.io

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 46 posts

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#31

Post by okamiueru »

tudorizer wrote: post #16
mxstbr wrote: post #15

In case you haven't seen the linked videos by GeoWizard about crossing Wales and Norway in a straight line, I would highly recommend watching them. The whole series makes for some very entertaining evenings, you wouldn't believe the kinds of things he comes across on his journeys!

Came here to post a similar comment. Even if he didn't cross the entire country, his "Straight Line" missions require a lot of prep and logistics, especially if a body of water or private land is involved.

Regarding Norway, it being private land wouldn't matter much. It is written in Norwegian law [0] granting the right to travel the land without too many restriction. Private property is not one such restriction. One should avoid farming fields during spring, but in broad strokes that's pretty much it.

This includes the right to forage (berries, mushroom, whatnot). Though hunting and fishing can be quite restricted. Motorized vehicles have their own set of restrictions, but trekking, biking, sailing, etc are fine.

So, one cannot for instance fence off the access to nature, like a "private" beach etc. And camping is allowed everywhere not within 150m of a house/cabin with residents up to two days, though relocating to somewhere else would be fine. Farmland is again an exception, and you should ask the owner for permission.

PS: There are local exceptions everywhere, so be sure to check that. Some waters are protected, etc. Some regions are considered "protected nature", which doesn't trump "allemannsretten" (the aforementioned rights), but there can be other restrictions. And in all cases, it is expected to not leave behind garbage or cause damage.

[0]: https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1957-06-28-16 (In Norwegian)

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#32

Post by rbonvall »

mkl wrote: post #14

What counts as across? In New Zealand, following Auckland's Portage Road would pretty much do it: https://www.google.com/maps/@-36.9356481,174.8371974,440m/da... (zoom out to see why) Australia though? I suppose you could count the northern tip of Queensland, but it doesn't seem very "across".

Since this is done for fun and not for any kind of official recognition, it counts if you think it does.

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#33

Post by Bayart »

leokennis wrote: post #13

I would be interested to know which is the longest distance straight line crossing of a country I could do, without having to go through a building or having to swim. Maybe some country in North Africa, that is mainly desert?

I'me thinking Antarctica, although what's a country there is up for debate.

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#34

Post by sandworm101 »

If one really wants to stick to a strait line, Monaco is probably not the best. It is certainly small, but it is full of obstacles. For pure straightness, somewhere like Canada, Greenland or the UAE would probably allow you to walk a more-perfect strait line from one coast to another through open territory. Such a trek would be far more difficult but much more strait.

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#36

Post by pjc50 »

leokennis wrote: post #13

I would be interested to know which is the longest distance straight line crossing of a country I could do, without having to go through a building or having to swim. Maybe some country in North Africa, that is mainly desert?

Clearly the longest theoretically possible will be Russia. Start at the border near Pskov and just head eastish until you end up in Laguna Kunergvin. Although that does involve crossing some big rivers, formidable mountain ranges, frozen tundra, and trackless forest.

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#37

Post by willyt »

okamiueru wrote: post #31
tudorizer wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Came here to post a similar comment. Even if he didn't cross the entire country, his "Straight Line" missions require a lot of prep and logistics, especially if a body of water or private land is involved.

Regarding Norway, it being private land wouldn't matter much. It is written in Norwegian law [0] granting the right to travel the land without too many restriction. Private property is not one such restriction. One should avoid farming fields during spring, but in broad strokes that's pretty much it. This includes the right to forage (berries, mushroom, whatnot). Though hunting and fishing can be quite restricted. Mo…

Within the UK we have the same law in Scotland, basically pretty similar to what you describe. This is different to England where you definitely cannot do this. Not sure about Wales or Northern Ireland.

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#38

Post by leokennis »

pjc50 wrote: post #36
leokennis wrote: post #13

I would be interested to know which is the longest distance straight line crossing of a country I could do, without having to go through a building or having to swim. Maybe some country in North Africa, that is mainly desert?

Clearly the longest theoretically possible will be Russia. Start at the border near Pskov and just head eastish until you end up in Laguna Kunergvin. Although that does involve crossing some big rivers, formidable mountain ranges, frozen tundra, and trackless forest.

A straight line without crossing any building?

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#39

Post by xadhominemx »

sandworm101 wrote: post #34

If one really wants to stick to a strait line, Monaco is probably not the best. It is certainly small, but it is full of obstacles. For pure straightness, somewhere like Canada, Greenland or the UAE would probably allow you to walk a more-perfect strait line from one coast to another through open territory. Such a trek would be far more difficult but much more strait.

Canada has the Rockies. Impossible to cross in a straight line.

Re: Crossing an entire country in a straight line

#40

Post by wp381640 »

mxstbr wrote: post #15

In case you haven't seen the linked videos by GeoWizard about crossing Wales and Norway in a straight line, I would highly recommend watching them. The whole series makes for some very entertaining evenings, you wouldn't believe the kinds of things he comes across on his journeys!

Thought his Scotland trip was a bit reckless. Ironically he caught covid last week.
Post reply on HN