Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are both surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries, a rare situation.

The longer version

Being landlocked means having no sea coast. A second level applies when every neighbour is itself landlocked, so goods must cross at least two borders before reaching a port. This happens rarely, because most clusters of landlocked states touch at least one coastal country somewhere along their shared frontiers.

The condition raises transport costs and complicates trade, since each crossing adds handling, customs checks and delay. Rail and road agreements with neighbours become necessary, and pipelines or river routes can substitute for ports. Both countries rely on overland routes through several states to reach shipping terminals on distant coasts.

Where this entry sits

These facts wander across maps, borders, deserts, rivers, mountains, and the extreme corners of the natural world. Each one is short and self-contained, offering a small surprise about places you may never visit rather than anything you actually need. The full list sits on the Geography page, where every entry is listed in order.