Which type of waters refers to areas completely within one state's jurisdiction?

The concept of internal waters is significant in maritime law, as it refers to areas that are completely encompassed by a state's land territory. This includes all bodies of water such as bays, rivers, and harbors that are located within the baseline of a coastal state. Because these waters are entirely within the jurisdiction of a single state, the state has full sovereignty over them, meaning it can regulate all activities without interference from other states. This control allows the state to enforce laws, manage resources, and ensure maritime safety.

In contrast, high seas are areas of ocean that are not under the jurisdiction of any single nation and are open for navigation by all. The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) allows a coastal state to exert certain rights over a portion of the ocean extending up to 200 nautical miles from its shores, mainly concerning economic activities like fishing and resource extraction, but it does not grant full sovereignty. The contiguous zone is a maritime area adjacent to a state's territorial waters, where a country can enforce customs, immigration, and sanitary laws, but again, does not cover areas entirely within the boundaries of one state. Thus, the definition of internal waters aligns perfectly with the concept of jurisdiction over waters confined to a state's territory.