LAW

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Legal Terms - Bay
A bay is a distinct and clearly visible semi-circular indentation on a shoreline. The definition of a bay is important in determining a state's jurisdiction over its coastal waters. The test is a geographic assessment that considers the relative size and arrangement. When making this determination, three factors have been considered: (1) the ratio of the depth of the indentation to the width of its mouth, (2) the economic and strategic significance of the indentation to the coastal state, and (3) the degree of seclusion of the indentation from the main maritime routes. However, a tiny number of what are known as "historic bays" are not subject to the conditions mentioned above. These waters have been asserted as internal waters based on historic title. As an illustration, the estuary of the River Plate in Argentina is asserted to be internal waters, just like the extensive Hudson Bay in Canada, which covers around 580,000 square miles.


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