December 2nd, 20146 of the Worldâ€™s Most Famous Fences

As the old saying goes, good fences make good neighbours. And while that particular phrase has been attributed to Robert Frost, Benjamin Franklin was also known to have said, “Love thy neighbour, yet don’t pull down your hedge”. If history is any indication, fences have played an important role in keep the peace, or in entertaining passersby, for thousands of years. With that in mind, here are 6 of the world’s most famous fences!

Dingo Fence

At around 5,633km in length, Australia’s Dingo Fence is the longest fence in the world. It’s so long in fact, that it covers the same amount of distance between New York and London! The fence was constructed in the early 20th century to keep dingoes out of the farmland and cities of south-east Australia and away from livestock and people. The fence is still in use today and it is estimated that its annual upkeep runs at $981,000.

The Berlin Wall (Deceased)

One of the most famous “fences” in history, the Berlin Wall, was constructed in 1961 and separated East and West Germany. Officially, the Eastern Bloc powers constructed the wall to protect its citizens from West German ‘fascists’ who might try to hinder the growth of the socialist states to the east. In actuality, the Berlin Wall prevented emigration from the Eastern Bloc to the west during the Cold War. The Berlin Wall’s use ceased in 1989, before it was torn down in 1990.

Hadrian’s Wall

Hadrian’s Wall is a 117.5km wall that was constructed during the Roman occupation of Britain (43 - 409 BC). Construction of the wall started in 122 BC, when Hadrian was the emperor. The bulk of the wall was built in 6 years and separates what is modern-day England from modern-day Scotland. Historians disagree as to the reasoning behind the construction of the wall, but many believe it was constructed to keep out the non-occupied Scottish ‘barbarians’. The wall was certainly a defensive military installation, although it also acted as a customs post. Large stretches of the wall remain intact to this day.

Great Wall of China

The magnificent Great Wall of China was constructed in stages, the first parts of what later became the Great Wall being built in the 7th century BC. Over the many years of its existence, the wall has been added upon and rebuilt. The bulk of the famous wall we know today was built during the Ming Dynasty in China (1368-1644 CE). The Great Wall is a fortification and it was constructed to protect the Chinese Empire from nomadic peoples, outside forces and military incursions. The stretch of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty totals an incredible 8,851.8km.

Buckingham Palace Fence and Gates

The fence and gates of Buckingham Palace were crafted in 1911 by the Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Arts. As you can imagine, the structure at Buckingham Palace represent some of the company’s most famous and heralded work. The Bromsgrove Guild went defunct in 1966.

Mehmet Ali Gökçeoglu’s Aquarium Fence

Back in 2013, Mehmet Ali Gökçeoglu of Turkey had a 164 metre aquarium fence constructed at his home. Yes, you read that right! The fence is essentially a fully-functioning aquarium that is home to fish, eels and more.

(Aquarium Fence Photos: Mehmet Ali GökçeoÄŸlu/Facebook)