Some Interesting Border Disputes and Anomalies

Reflecting on Daniel Draches essay “Borders Permeable and Impermeable” were he talks about how the Canada-U.S. border really represents a symbolic battle-line were the two countries have a history of quarrelling over issues of resources, security, cultural visions etc. to advance their own strategic interests, I found an interesting article on contemporary U.S.-Canadian border disputes and border anomalies. Admittedly most of these disputes are not very exciting. However, the one in the Beaufort Sea has a lot of strategic value and might take on greater significance as we begin to exhaust our fossil fuel resources. Also, like the Beaufort Sea but on a larger scale, I think we can include the emerging dispute over Artic boundaries (potential oil and gas reserves) as a future location for a clash over resources.

Four contemporary border disputes

The Dixon Entrance: is a strait between B.C. and Alaska about 80 km long and wide in the Pacific and is the main entry point for Prince Rupert, B.C.

Beaufort Sea: the two countries disagree over who has sovereignty over part of the northern sea between the Yukon and Alaska due to oil and gas located below the water.

Strait of Juan de Fuca: is a body of water connecting Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean between Vancouver Island and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state.

Machias Seal Island: is a treeless rock located between the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of Maine near Grand Manan Island New Brunswick and Cutler, Maine. Canada has had a lighthouse there since 1832.

A couple of border anomalies.

Point Roberts: a peninsula that juts out into the Strait of Georgia on the West Coast, but the bottom half belongs to the state of Washington. Americans have to drive 45 minutes through B.C. to get to the American part of Point Roberts. A treaty signed on June 15,1855, between the British and the Americans drew the border along the 49th parallel across the peninsula, but the border was adjusted to include Vancouver Island as part of British territory.

The Northwest Angle: Minnesota's Northwest Angle (a peninsula attached to Manitoba) was created by accident due to mapmakers' vague conceptions of the origins of the Mississippi River. When the river turned up south of where they expected, the border dropped down too, leaving an isolated 390 square km piece of the U.S. appended to Manitoba. About 100 Americans call that piece of land home.