The border between the United States and Canada, spanning close to 8,900 kilometers, is the longest in the world. This dividing line largely follows the 49 parallel, crossing dense forests, lakes, and mountains – a far cry from the heavily fortified border that separates the US from its southern neighbor. I mean, think about it, this border doesn’t have fences or physical barriers for the most part. It’s pretty remarkable when you consider the vast expanse of land it covers.
At the eastern end of this border, where Maine’s Gulf meets Fundy’s Bay, there’s a small island that’s easy to overlook, but it’s actually kind of a big deal. Machias Seal Island, also known as the island of the Machias seals, is the only territory in dispute between Washington and Ottawa. It’s a tiny piece of land, approximately seven hectares, with no permanent residents except for sea birds that attract tourists from both countries. The only construction on the island is a lighthouse, which was erected in 1832 by the British to mark their presence in the area. It’s been automated for a while now, but Canada still sends people to perform maintenance inspections, making them the only temporary inhabitants of the island.
The origin of the dispute
So, how did this dispute even start? Well, according to National Geographic, it all began in 1783 when the treaty that ended the US War of Independence established that the Seal Machias Islands would be under American control. But Canada wasn’t having it, arguing that the island was within the territory of Nova Scotia. You’d think it would be a simple matter to resolve, but nope, it’s been dragging on for centuries. In 1981, both countries took the case to the International Court of Justice, which delimited the maritime limit south of the area surrounding the island, referring to it as a gray zone. However, both the US and Canada decided to reserve the possibility of directly negotiating the borders of the island.
To date, those negotiations haven’t paid off, and in recent years, the island has become a point of diplomatic friction between both nations. It’s all about the commercial potential, really – the area is rich in lobsters, and fishermen from both countries are getting more and more interested in it. I guess you could say it’s a bit of a contentious issue, but it’s also kind of fascinating to see how something so small can cause such a big stir. Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out in the end.