Final answer:
In geography, natural features such as mountains and rivers often serve as natural borders and are depicted with a level of hierarchy on maps that reflects their significance, while cities and borders are human-made and may not align with the principles of hierarchy if not represented accurately.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked which element of this fictional map does not follow common principles of hierarchy. In terms of map design and the interpretation of geopolitical divisions, hierarchy refers to the visual and conceptual arrangement of elements to signify their relative importance or level of detail required. Natural features such as mountains and rivers often serve as natural borders between political units and are typically rendered on maps to reflect their hierarchical importance. However, cities and borders represent human-made features. Cities are usually considered subordinate to larger political divisions like states or countries, and borders are typically depicted to outline these divisions. Assuming all features follow a logical visual hierarchy where larger or more significant elements like mountains are highlighted or more prominent than cities or borders, it's possible that cities or borders might not follow the established principles if they are disproportionately emphasized over natural features.