Final answer:
Artificial boundaries such as the International Date Line are fixed lines following latitude or longitude lines, defined in boundary treaties between countries. The line's location depends on longitude and latitude, specified by each point's meridian and the number of degrees of arc it is from equator.
Step-by-step explanation:
Artificial boundaries are fixed lines that generally follow latitude or longitude lines and are often formally defined in boundary treaties between countries. A key example of an artificial boundary is the International Date Line, an arbitrary line on the surface of the Earth near longitude 180°, across which the date changes by one day. It has been set by an international agreement to run mainly along the 180° meridian of longitude. The line takes into consideration the locations of territories to avoid unnecessary confusion.
Each point on the Earth's surface has its own meridian, specifying the east-west location, or longitude, of a place. By international agreement, longitude is defined as the number of degrees of arc along the equator between your meridian and the one passing through Greenwich, England, which is considered the Prime Meridian. On the other hand, the latitude of a place is the number of degrees of arc it is away from the equator along its meridian, measured either to the north or south.
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