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The border runs for a total of 360km (224 miles) from Lough Foyle on the northern edge of the island of Ireland to Carlingford Lough in the east on the Irish Sea . It is the only land frontier of the United Kingdom and Republic Of Ireland . HISTORY The border was created in 1920 by the British Parliament 's Government Of Ireland Act , legislating for Home Rule in Ireland, albeit with separate parliaments for the northeast (where support for ''Home Rule'' was in the minority) and the rest of the country. This partitioned Ireland (until then one of four Home Nation s forming the United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Ireland ) into Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland . Originally intended as an internal United Kingdom frontier, the border effectively became an international frontier on 6 December 1922 upon the transfomation of Southern Ireland into the Irish Free State . Initially created as a Dominion the Irish Free State was effectively independent from the United Kingdom from its creation, with this status being formalised by the adoption of the Statute Of Westminster in 1931 and the declaration of the Republic Of Ireland in 1949. A Boundary Commission was to draw a border between the two jurisdictions, based on the demographic makeup in the north of Ireland (including the counties now in the Republic of Ireland). However, its recommendations in were not favored by either side and the boundary was agreed formally, without changes from the 1920 demarcation lines, between the United Kingdom and Irish governments in 1925. CUSTOMS AND PASSPORT CHECKS Customs controls were introduced on the frontier shortly after the establishment of the Irish Free State. This was due to the Irish Free State government's desire to establish its own fiscal and import control policies, distinct from those of the United Kingdom. These controls were maintained, with varying degrees of severity, until 31 December 1992 when the European Single Market came into effect. In particular, Rail Transport In Ireland became a particular casualty of the instigation of customs and administrative divisions. The railway network on either side of the border relied on cross-border routes, and eventually, a large section of the Irish railway's route network was shut down. Today only the cross-border route from Dublin to Belfast remains, and counties Cavan , Donegal , Fermanagh , Monaghan and Tyrone have no rail services. Passport controls have never been in effect on the frontier. See Common Travel Area . THE TROUBLES The Troubles ensured that the border was heavily secured from the 1970s until the late 1990s . Many smaller cross-border roads were cratered, to prevent their use for regular vehicular traffic. Bridges were also destroyed to prevent access at unauthorised border crossings. Particularly on crossing the border into South Armagh , British Army surveillance posts were prominent. Despite security provisions, authorised crossing points on the border remained open to civilian traffic in both directions at all times. THE CONTEMPORARY BORDER Now the border, despite still being in existence, has less significance than it once had. This has been mainly due to the Common Travel Area between the Republic of Ireland and the the United Kingdom, as well as a sharp reduction in terrorism. European Integration has also played a part. The border is not officially marked, though it is noticeable due to the change in roadsign format and minor changes in road surface. Since the adoption by the Republic Of Ireland of metric speed limits, warning signs have been placed on either side of the border to alert motorists to the change from Miles Per Hour to Kilometres Per Hour , or vice-versa. BORDER CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES The following cities, towns and villages are located close to the border (from north-west to south east):
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