Mapping oddities

Re: The island that Canada forgot, Joe O’connor, Jan. 26

Your article on New

Brunswick’s Campobello Island regarding its particular “isolation” from mainland Canada (it must be accessed via the U.S.A.) is most interesting; but, along the western part of the international border, which by rule follows the 49th parallel, two similar situations are encountered, but in reverse: peninsulas connected by land to Canada only.

Immediately south of Vancouver, Point Roberts juts out into the Strait of Georgia. Reaching further south than the 49th, it is part of the State of Washington. Its residents, just as Campobello’s, if driving, must go through four customs crossings to do any business in the mainland part of their state.

Where Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota meet in the Lake of the Woods itself, is a peninsula called the Northwest Angle. It is connected by land to Manitoba but, respecting the 49th parallel and the due north-south border between the two aforementioned Canadian provinces, is part of Minnesota. Where was the logic?

Not to mention that thanks to the U.S.’S Alaska purchase, the entire northern half of British Columbia lost access to the Pacific coastline ... Steven Gauvin, Chelmsford, Ont.

Editor’s note: The Northwest Angle was the subject of a Jan. 4, 2019, article by Tristin Hopper.

George Chuvalo