Strange Maps: Canada extends as far south as California
March 4, 2009
A long time ago, I heard a joke:
What do you call someone who knows three languages?
Trilingual.
What do you call someone who knows two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who knows one language?
An American.
The punchline holds true when it comes to geography. Most Americans think of Canada as cold, remote, barren. California? Ah, southern, verdant, sunny, palm trees …
Most Americans would be amazed to learn that Canada actually extends further south than the northern border of California!
Pelee Island, Ontario is the largest island in Lake Erie. Although its location is close to chilly Detroit, the lake effect gives it a milder climate than nearby mainland cities. Its climate is similar to North / South Carolina, and wine is actually grown there. It lies south of Latitude 42° N, which serves as the northern border of California. (Incidentally, the 42nd also serves as most of the northern border of Pennsylvania.)
Middle Island, Ontario is actually further south in Lake Erie than Pelee Island and is officially the southernmost point of Canada. No permanent settlements are present, however, since it is a conservation area.
“Wait a minute,” you may be saying. “These are islands. So does that mean the Canadian mainland doesn’t extend as far south as California?” Hold your Canadian Mounties horses, willya?
Point Pelee, Ontario and the hamlet of Colchester, Ontario are both on the Canadian mainland. Both also lie south of Latitude 42° N.
Consider this part of the education of us Americans so that we will no longer be the punchline of (as many) jokes. I actually didn’t know this until Guy commented on this. Thanks, Guy.
Ciao!
March 5, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Interesting post. Few times with my family, we camped at Point Pelee National Park during Mother Day’s weekend to do some bird watching. I did not realize it’s more south than part of California. It’ll be a good question for trivia game.
March 9, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I wound up in your blog twice while looking for strange borders and looking for cellphones. You really do talk about everything!
I have always been intrigued by enclaves and exclaves. The last one I went to was Netherlands inside Belgium… Baarle Hertzog something.
Keep up the great blog!
March 9, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Thanks for your comment, Richard! WAD, I’m sure it’s a beautiful place to camp.
April 10, 2009 at 10:15 am
Cool post, surprising fact for Canadians too (at least me).
Cheers.
May 18, 2009 at 1:32 am
Yup I live along that north coast of Lake Erie, we can see the island from here in Kingsville. It’s a fantastic place to live and the best part is calling my relatives in Edmonton throughout the winter to brag about our warm weather.
But we still have some cold days and a fair amount of snow, however it usually thaws between each snow fall.
July 21, 2009 at 2:52 am
This guy is totally into weird map situations too. Did you know there are several valleys in the Alps that belong to one country but because of their ease of transport to the neighbour country, they either use their currency or postage stamps? Think of those very tiny nations as well in Europe that use a currency of a nearby Country.
August 21, 2009 at 3:59 am
Apparently the border between the US and Canada “along” the 49th parallel has a few surveying errors and can deviate north or south by at least few hundred feet in some places!