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In honor of the day
Jul. 1st, 2009 10:00 pmHappy Canada Day, everyone!
Canada Day always puts me in mind of the couple of times I spent it at the celebrations in Ottawa, among proud people who, if we were all sufficiently fortified with fine Canadian beers, were eager to educate me at length on the USA's 20th century contingency plans to invade Canada and the whupping Canada gave my native land in the War of 1812.
Anyway, in that vein, here is an interesting list of areas disputed by Canada and the United States.
I have no opinion on the merits of any of these claims. Most of the disagreements are over maritime borders or the status of various waters, but Machias Seal Island and North Rock between Maine and New Brunswick are actually disputed pieces of land, the larger of which is a popular birdwatching destination (it has puffins). I think this is the only land contested by Canada and the US. Recent diplomatic activity concerning the area seems to have been carefully crafted to make no particular attempt to resolve the issue.
I was actually inspired to look this up after reading this Strange Maps post on Bir Tawil, the only area in the world known to be disclaimed by both sides in a boundary dispute.
Canada Day always puts me in mind of the couple of times I spent it at the celebrations in Ottawa, among proud people who, if we were all sufficiently fortified with fine Canadian beers, were eager to educate me at length on the USA's 20th century contingency plans to invade Canada and the whupping Canada gave my native land in the War of 1812.
Anyway, in that vein, here is an interesting list of areas disputed by Canada and the United States.
I have no opinion on the merits of any of these claims. Most of the disagreements are over maritime borders or the status of various waters, but Machias Seal Island and North Rock between Maine and New Brunswick are actually disputed pieces of land, the larger of which is a popular birdwatching destination (it has puffins). I think this is the only land contested by Canada and the US. Recent diplomatic activity concerning the area seems to have been carefully crafted to make no particular attempt to resolve the issue.
I was actually inspired to look this up after reading this Strange Maps post on Bir Tawil, the only area in the world known to be disclaimed by both sides in a boundary dispute.