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99% Invisible · February 24, 2026 · 00:31:33

The Longest Fence in the World

This episode of 99% Invisible explores the story of the world's longest fence, built across Australia to protect sheep from predators. The fence, a colossal human intervention, didn't just safeguard livestock—it reshaped the continent's ecology, creating distinct landscapes on either side. The story reveals how a simple agricultural solution can cascade into far-reaching environmental and cultural consequences.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

A fence to keep predators out
The fence was originally built to separate sheep from the animals that prey on them, representing a choice to exclude predators rather than coexist.
A continent split in two
The fence inadvertently created two different ecosystems: intensively farmed land on one side, and a more natural landscape on the other.
A monument to ambition and unintended consequences
The story of the longest fence is both a celebration of human engineering and a cautionary tale about our attempts to control nature.
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