I had a look to see how many islands there are within Canada
- that was a foolhardy idea ... as the total number has never been established,
but is very large!
 |
| Hans Island - in all its bald glory! |
In fact along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, Lake Huron,
the number are estimated at 30,000 ... so at that point I decided the thought
wasn't worth exploring ...
... Canada is full of marine and wildlife living all along
the shores of the country, its lakes, rivers and waterways ... so let's talk
about one fun island ...
 |
| Canada is in yellow, beige is Greenland |
Hans Island ... now this island is 'owned' by two nations -
do they go to war over it ... absolutely not - they agree to disagree.
Susan, wife of Smarticus, has a wonderful descriptive post about
Hans Island ... which will amuse you ... her post is here at her blog: I Think;Therefore, I Yam.
Hans Island is between Canada and Greenland ... now
Greenland is administered by Denmark ... so Canada and Denmark swap their
ownership ...
 |
| Hans Island in the Nares Strait, where the Kennedy Channel is to found |
... a flag and a bottle of Danish schnapps: this gets
replaced with a bottle of Canadian Club whiskey and of course a new flag ...
... but that's settled peacefully and in good spirits - so
do please read Susan's post: A Spirited Dispute - it'll bring you lots of laughs ... her
descriptions are way better than my brief note here ... and you won't have a dispute with me!
That is I for Islands from Aspects of Canada by a British 'girl' in
Canada ...
13 June 2022 ... Tiny Hans Island border ...
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
41 comments:
I had no idea Canada had so many islands.
From the looks of that picture, I'm kind of surprised that no one just said, "Nah, you can keep it..."
But that is just one woman's opinion...
Cool! I hope you're having fun with the A-Z. :)
I never would have known about so many islands. And yes, Susan's post is chock full of her humor/knowledge combo. Thanks for including it.
I had read Susan’s post and it was fun read. With all the islands that Canada has, I am sure they wouldn’t miss Hans Island. It is great that they have fun with another nation about its ownership.
I will be happy to travel to beautiful Canada again. Thanks for all your research! I'm going to share your posts with my husband, as I'm sure he will find them as fascinating as I do.
I loved Susan's post - and wish that all territorial disputes could be resolved so amicably.
And must add that severely underrate your own writing skills.
@ Liz - I guess it shouldn't have surprised me ... but thinking about the coast line of the west coast I shouldn't have been shocked by the immeasurable number of islands.
@ Jz - it does look a little barren - but has been used for research, for marine protection ... and thankfully by two nations who don't go to War ... but can quite see your comment!
@ Susan - thanks for the link ... your post is great ... and yes, as usual, I am having fun with the A-Z ... and getting exhausted!
@ Joanne - the number of islands I knew would be large ... but not immeasurable. Susan's post is wonderful isn't it ...
@ Arleen - wasn't it a great post - I just had to link over and use Hans Island ... I guess they want to keep part ownership for the marine preservation ...
@ Sue - it's fun working a letter into a blog post - that's different ... I do hope your husband enjoys the posts ... thanks for pointing him in this direction ...
@ EC - I too loved Susan's post ... and if only every dispute could be so happily resolved ... such a great read. Thanks so much re my 'writing skills' - I just write and hope it reads ok ... delighted to see it does so ...
Lovely to see you all - I'll be over soon ... cheers Hilary
Gosh, I wish territorial disputes in our parts could be settled in the ahem same spirit... :)
I always thought Canada was just this one place! Had no idea!
Wow..that is a huge number...are all these islands human habitable?
Tongue Twister for I
Susan's post at I Think, Therefore I Yam is terrific!
CLICK HERE for Bazza’s barmecidal Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
I don't see Hans Island becoming the next Majorca any time soon! Interesting!
A-Z of My Friend Rosey!
Wow, that is a huge number of islands and yet again you are educating me. I am glad that you are having a spell in Canada I am learning so much. Enjoy your week, Diane
Hans Island reminds me of Stone Mountain, near where I live in Georgia.
You mean you haven't rented a canoe and COUNTED them yet, Hilary? :-)
Hari OM
Crikey, I thought Scotland was doing well at nearly 800 islands...Gotta love a rugged coastline - and the rugged people who populate it! YAM xx
Canada is so amazing. Thanks for this good geography/history lesson.
All those islands in Canada and they share one. I guess you can't win them all. Good idea for them to drink over it.
Matt and I visited the Thousand Islands in the St. Lawrence River a few years ago. I'm not really sure Hans Island classifies as an island because it hasn't got any trees on it. Something about two trees makes it an island.
This is a fun story! Very quirky! Mind you, if the island had any resources it might be a different matter, but still...
Right, I think i have to visit Canada some time in the not too distant future. I can do that now I have said goodbye to my day job.
I Is for Illustrators
https://suebursztynski.blogspot.com.au/2018/04/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-2018-i-is-for.html
I have never heard of Hans Island, but that seems like a very Canadian way of settling things :)
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings - Movie Monsters
Hi Hilary. I'm surprised about no one knowing how many islands make up Canada, but I suppose that is because some of them may just be permanently frozen ocean! Going to visit Susan's blog now.
In 2002, I had trouble sleeping on our first night out of Vancouver on a cruise to Alaska, so I was up and out of the cabin as we cruised between Vancouver Island and whatever was on the other side of the channel. The ship plied it's way north most of the way between islands.
And, of course, we saw a lot of islands on the ferry to Vancouver Island and, later, back to the mainland in '92. Big ones, small ones, and many in between. ;)
I guess I'll have to read Susan's post I think therefore I yam - for a laugh it seems and to find out whether they're habitable or Inhabitable. Hans looks inhabitable and very bald! so many islands? Thanks for giving us Hans! Thanks Hilary!
I read it! It was very amusing and re-assuring in how they resolved their differences re ownership!
Canada: Land of Uncountable Islands - who knew?! Susan's post is delightful, but I'm seriously thrilled with the cooperative solution the Canadians and the Danish have come to with regard to Hans. I think every nation should get a copy of the memo on how to do things, peacefully and with good humor. When I rule the world... :-)
Next time I head up north, I'll have to visit some of these islands you've been writing about.
I didn't know that either--about all the islands--but I suppose it makes sense. With all the slipping and sliding of the Pacific Plate, bits of land are bound to break off.
Another interesting post, Hilary.
What an enlightening post, Hilary! I very much enjoyed Susan's post as well. It's refreshing to know there are those who do manage to get along despite their differences.
@ Nila - oh I know ... wouldn't it be amazing if disputes could be settled so amicably ...
@ Kelly - surprising what we learn, isn't it ...
@ DeeDee - I have no idea ... many of the tiny ones are definitely not inhabited - some of them will be scientifically monitored for marine life etc ..
@ Bazza - isn't it a great post ... so glad you went over ...
@ Keith - no, I think you might be right there - but I suspect Canada, Greenland and Denmark might be quite pleased with your deduction ...
@ Diane - thanks so much ... just glad you're enjoying these simple posts ... millions of islands up here ...
@ Lynn - I'll need to read up about Stone Mountain ... but I see what you mean - at least you can reach yours!!
@ Mike - nope ... I've seen a few canoes, kayaks or similar but not been in one - nor am thinking of setting out on some travels in one! Sorry ... and I'm honestly not sure my education would qualify me to count up to and no doubt over a million!!
@ Yamini - I wrote a post on Islands in 2014 for my Aspects of British Coasts ... and yes lots of ruggedness about the coast here ...
@ Denise - so glad you're picking up snippets about Canada ...
@ Rhonda - yes, it is funny isn't it - but loved the story ...
@ Jo - I could have used Thousand Islands in the St Lawrence - but hadn't come across it ... now I have: thank you. Hans Island is called an island ... and I just loved Susan's story - so had to include it ... Hans is still an island: surrounded by water ...
@ Sue - oh yes Susan's post ... is such a great read ... I think these two nations will hold their nerve re future negotiations. Well that's amazing if you're thinking of coming up here - now you've retired ... wonderful - just enjoy your free time ...
@ Tasha - isn't it a great way to settle challenges - Hans Island deserves to be remembered just for that ...
@ Kim - I just think there are too many ... in Britain (my post on 10 April 2014 I for Islands ...) there are over 6,000 islands and many haven't been digitised ... ie they are too small - and I cannot think how far the number would run here in Canada ... let alone the frozen-in ones ...
Thanks for visiting Susan's post and linking across here ...
@ Mike - I haven't even been up the coast ... but here just driving near the coast, one can only see islands and a bit further off the mainland - with yet more islands ... so quite understand you'd have seen 'hundreds' ... I have yet to do the Alaskan trip ...
@ Susan = so glad you went over to read her post ... it's brilliant isn't it ... Habitable or uninhabitable ... Hans Island, bald or otherwise, may rest in peace!!
@ Deborah - so glad both posts have amused you - Susan's is so well written. I agree it'd be good to get a copy of the memo on how to do things per the Canadian and Danish way and circulate it to all political leaders ... something might come out of it - sadly I doubt some would even consider it!
@ Sherry - excellent ... there's so many islands to choose from - Vancouver is probably 'the best'!! and I haven't even written about this one - where I'm living for now ...
@ Jacqui - yes it's a fractured world up here ... east, west or north - the south is locked in to those States down south ...
@ Diedre - isn't Susan's post fun ... thanks for noting it ... and yes if only we could all get on so easily - life would be so much easier ..
Cheers and thanks for all your visits and to those who jumped over to read Susan's post ... Hilary
I sincerely hope no one ever finds a rare natural resource on Hans Island, Hilary. Let's keep the land dispute as the friendly affair it is today. I knew Canada had a lot of islands but did not realize the number of them is unknown. So interesting. Thanks!
If only all international disputes could be resolved so easily!
wow...Canada sure has a ton of islands and you're living on one of them.
i don't think that huge chunk of rock is worth fighting over so i'm glad they do it with flags and booze.
what if by chance someone is born on Hans Island. would he/she be Canadian or Danish? Denadian? Canish? lol
Hi Hilary! As always, I'm learning something new today. I think I'll show off to my hubby tonight about how many islands Canada has. I'm sure he doesn't know. How cool would it be if America could be so laid back about settling things with other countries? Here's some apple pie, we good?
Elsie
they must have tried to graze this island at one time.
When I think of Canadian Islands, I think of Prince Edward Island. I was assigned to do a project about that province when I was in the Sixth Grade in elementary school.
I am learning so many things
That;s neat about Hans Island, I hadn't known that! Someday I'd like to make it up north, into the wilds, and see the ice and sea and northern lights. I'd also like to visit Victoria Island!
@ Emily - I think that'll be settled amicably ... unless other raiders come rushing in. Loads of islands - and I'm not surprised they can't count them ...
@ Anabel - oh yes ... if only all disputes could be settled easily ...
@ Lenny - yup I'm living on the 11th largest of the Canadian islands. That rock may apparently not be worth a lot ... but its maritime boundaries are and could well be ... but it's a delightful story isn't it.
If someone was borne there ... they could be from Greenland too - so lots of choices ... probably via their parents - but who knows ... a story perhaps!
@ Elsie - that's great ... and what fun you could have with your hubby. Oh wouldn't it make life all around the world easier if we could all live in peace and just get on with our lives quietly ...
@ Steve - perhaps ... but they do science there ... and earlier on it was a part of the Inuit hunting grounds since the 1300s ...
@ Trudy - yes I know I could have used areas on the east coast - but I've no idea about that part of Canada ... except PEI and Maudie (the artist) and Lucy Maud Montgomery (the author) ... which would have stretched my brain cells too much! I guess that school assignment opened your eyes to a few things ...
@ Jo-Anne - thank you ...
@ Deniz - it's an interesting snippet of a fun way of life ... and if Susan hadn't posted about it - I'd have never have picked it up ...
The northern territories must be amazing - and to see the northern lights ... and Vancouver Island I hope!! You could go to Victoria Island (2nd largest) to have your northern visit ... Vancouver Island is only the 11th largest island within Canada ...
Cheers ... the islands have been so interesting to find out about ... I probably need to come back to them at some stage - enjoy the weekend - Hilary
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