Fact Check: "Turkey shares a 569-kilometer (348-mile) long border with Iran."
What We Know
The claim that Turkey shares a 569-kilometer (348-mile) long border with Iran is incorrect. According to the Iran-Turkey border Wikipedia page, the actual length of the Iran-Turkey border is 534 kilometers (332 miles). This border runs from the tripoint with Azerbaijan in the north to the tripoint with Iraq in the south.
Analysis
The assertion of a 569-kilometer border appears to stem from various news reports and articles, such as those from WBALTV and Infotel, which incorrectly cite the border length. These sources may have relied on outdated or erroneous information, as they do not provide a clear reference to the actual measurements from credible geographical data.
In contrast, the Wikipedia entry, which is frequently updated and cross-referenced with multiple sources, provides a reliable measurement of 534 kilometers. This discrepancy indicates a potential lack of diligence in verifying facts by the news outlets that reported the longer border length.
Moreover, the credibility of the Wikipedia source is supported by its extensive citations and the collaborative nature of its content, which allows for corrections and updates based on new information. In contrast, the news articles do not provide citations for their claims, making them less reliable.
Conclusion
Verdict: False. The claim that Turkey shares a 569-kilometer (348-mile) long border with Iran is inaccurate. The correct length of the border is 534 kilometers (332 miles), as confirmed by multiple credible sources, including the Iran-Turkey border Wikipedia page. The incorrect figure likely arises from misreporting by various news outlets without proper verification.
