The US & Canada’s Only Border Dispute Over Land 

One thing that the British gave all of its colonies equally is Border disputes

I don't know why but I felt kinda relieved when heard him say borders.

I was a lobsterman on a offshore commercial boat out of Westport Massachusetts in the late 80s and early 90s and we discussed this because it was big news among lobsterman oh, and the conclusion we came to was it should be designated a no fishing Zone by both countries so it would serve as a breeding ground for lobsters in both countries. End of problem.

If education was this dynamic I wouldn't have slept from 7th grade to high school graduation.

"These are the lines we use to draw countries... we call them BORDERS" (single tear)

I think I'll side with Canada on this one. If they've been occupying that lighthouse since before the place became valuable then they have the right to it.

I came to this channel from a McDonald's conspiracy video, then I can't stop

Declare the Island a Nature Reserve, and NOBODY gets to harvest the lobsters.

We all need to appreciate how easy Google maps makes our curiosity in maps and the world explode.

The timing of this is crazy especially considering the conflicts happening on the east coast of Canada over these lobster fisheries with the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

great vid. one thing I want to point out is that Johnny goes to great lengths to point out how important lobster is to the people of Maine. I can assure you that it is also important to the people of Nova Scotia.

As a New Englander who enjoys lobster, I say just give it to Canada. There won't be any more lobster if both countries are scrambling to get more of it, and then it becomes useless to both. Canada clearly cares more about it, and they inherited the lighthouse, so that 's enough of a reason.

Vox: cancels Borders USA Johnny: fine, I'll make my own Borders USA with my family and maps

“God created war so that Americans would learn geography.” ― Mark Twain

I’m from Maine and I wasn’t even aware of this dispute. Thanks for the video!

Dude. Thank you for revealing every tidbit of your map and cartography geekiness. I can't even begin to explain to you how much I can relate, and am sure many on others on your channel relate to as well. LOVE your work. #subscribed

He did it, he said the name: Borders 😭

Vox: *cancels borders JH: LiNeS tO dRaW cOuNtRiEs

Canada with a lighthouse they inherited from the old owners and an older treaty that says they own the island America: haha island mine

What happens if person was born there is he/she Canadian 🇨🇦 or American 🇺🇸 or both based on birthright citizenship that both countries has

I'm from New Brunswick and live about an hour from the Maine - NB border. I never thought I'd see anything from my neck of the woods in a Johnny video! What's good to remember is Canadian lobstermen and Maine lobstermen are very similar people with the same interests in terms of lifestyle and economy. We have more to gain through understanding each other than by fighting over borders. @Johnny Harris if you really want to get into a fishing dispute, look at the banks of newfoundland and how their fishing industry actually had to get shut down by Ottawa because of overfishing near the international water border (where europeans came over and overfished)

I see one positive use for this "grey zone": -USA and Canada agree this is to be a no fishing zone -The two countries removed a bone of contention and everyone is equally "unhappy" for now, except for the Lobsters! The area gets an important use - is becomes a fisheries preservation area, and so Lobster might just remain on the menu in to the future... ...because nobody in the fishing industry has a future once all the stocks are fished out.

Just an FYI, it’s not the Canadian Military that places the Light Keeper on Machias Seal Island. It’s the Canadian Coast Guard.

Canada: **takes island** Maine: "where lobster?"

The Hans Island dispute between Greenland (Denmark) and Canada is my favorite. Showing sovereignty over an island with whiskey is a unique and entertaining way to fight

“This is not just a family travel blog” At this point, you’ve earned so much trust that I think we’d all be fine if you just did a couple of those. I’m sure they’d be great. “the border dispute between my wife, my child, and the kitchen” would watch.

In the '90s, we wanted to see puffin and decided to take the trip to Machias Seal Harbor to do so. Booked 2 seats with Barna Norton and were very excited to be finally going to see puffin. We set sail early in the early morning darkness. The fog was extremely thick. There was zero visibility. The small boat was moving full throttle the entire 10 miles of the trip. Looking back at the experience, the fog seemed like a metaphor for what was to come. When we made it to the island, Captain Barna told us Canada had a lighthouse on the island and that Canada also claimed the island. He handed us all hats to wear because hundreds of arctic terns, who also nest on the island, were known to dive at, even hit, those who came to the island "to protect their territory". He then took out a good sized American flag, raised it high in the air and marched us onto the island as if we were conscripts in a regiment instead of an unaffiliated band of unsuspecting bird watchers. Our trip to see puffins then took on a much deeper significance, which to say the least, we found quite unsettling. We had no framework but our imaginations to understand what our stepping foot on this island ten miles out to sea meant or what its ramifications would be. And, at the same time, we had a hoard of screaming artic terns diving at us. The shelter of a duck blind served us well for the remainder of the time we spent on the island. Although a bit claustrophobic, the shelter got us away from the diving birds and being an unwitting part of some front line international political statement that we did not sign up for nor for which we had any previous knowledge. We only wanted to see puffin.

Videos so good I don’t even skip the sponsorship part.😂

Easy solution: Make the grey zone a neutral no fishing zone. That way you have a sustainable breeding ground for the lobsters. And you can give the Canadians that lighthouse they so want, work maybe joint access to the island for tourism

The bit about the ICJ poring over countless maps and calculations reminded me of my late father, who was a land surveyor who specialized in borders and was part of the Spratly Islands territorial dispute before he passed. I'm sure he would have appreciated your passion for international borders if he were still around. Keep up the good work! Love your videos ❤️

*That ad transition was so smooth I had to watch it. Well done.*

We luv the work, keep em coming.

"The US & Canada’s Only Border Dispute Over Land" Actually a dispute over water

The only complaint I have about videos like this is they always say “Canada” when really lobster isn’t a big deal in Alberta or pretty much any province expect for the Maritime provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, etc) would love it if people started referencing provinces like they do states

Great video. Johnny you should look into the Senkaku / diaoyu island dispute in Asia. I'm living in Japan and this dispute was CONSTANTLY on the news a few years back. As a topic it would be a great sequel to this video.

Can you do a story about "West Sahara" or the dispute about the Moroccan Sahara, would really like to hear an outsider perspective

thank you so much for putting english subtitles in your videos. I am not a native english speaker so I couldn't catch some words. The subtitle helps me a lot. Thank you very much, Johnny ❤️❤️❤️

Hmm, a war fought over Lobsters would be interesting. Get the U.S and Canada to have a lobster cookout. Who ever makes the most delicious lobster dish wins.

As a 911 dispatcher, this sounds like a jurisdictional nightmare. Who the heck gets to investigate a murder on this island then? Or, if one of those tourists are having a medical emergency... who responds? Which hospital are they then brought to?

There is actually a book called "The Lobster Wars" (at least that is close) about the warring parties of Maine lobster-men.

US and Canada have four border disputes, the one you talked about is the Machias Seal Island dispute (Maine/New Brunswick), but there's also the Strait of Juan de Fuca dispute (Washington/British Columbia), Beaufort Sea dispute (Alaska/Yukon) and Dixon Entrance dispute (Alaska/British Columbia). Technically there's also the Northwest Passage dispute where Canada claims the passage but the US claims it's international waters instead.

"And there's... puffins." Poor puffins can't even imagine that they are actually provoking a struggle with their beauty... 😂

Wow! I thought I was the one who do this wired thing of tracing border lines for hours, but now I know I'm not alone.

I live in novascotia and I've never heard of this, thank you for sharing this information

Rest of the world: shooting people over oil US and Canada: shooting people over lobster

When you were about the mention how the island may be of conflict, I was so expecting you to talk about bird shit again.

Hey, can we let the USA have this Island, if we can have Point Roberts?

Wow, super trippy seeing that lighthouse at 0:17 - 0:21 ... I used to go there all the time back home in MA! That's in Marblehead, MA, one of my favorite spots to go climb the rocks and use the viewfinders to look out over the bay at Salem, Beverly and Gloucester, MA. :)

There's an island between France and Spain and they've signed a treaty where they own Island for 6 months and then switch it.

Can you please make a border dispute video covering the Azeri-Armenian Nagorno Karabakh conflict PLEASEEEE! your unbiased style of journalism would be really clutch right now

Hi Johnny. Love your informative and thought-provoking content. I notice that you never smile. Ever. Or laugh. And your thumbnails are always so serious. I mean, you clearly have a sense of humour, but you never show your pearly whites.

I am so glad I found you you just make life better thank you Rob Vancouver

Canada didn’t “inherit” the lighthouse and “occupy it” because the formation of Canada is FROM Britain, meaning it belongs to Canada, formerly Britain.

FYI to Americans, the lobster industry is so important to the East coast of Canada, we have a mini conflict going on between first nations and commercial fisherman, leading to arson and mini scuffles

Outstanding video

At 2:36 there's a little error in your map, from 1907 to 1934 Newfoundland was it's own country on similar standing to Canada within the British Empire

"We've had people shot over lobster fishing conflicts... significant violence." Something tells me it was a one way ordeal. Looking at you, 'Murica. 👀

Territorial Conflict i.e “Universal British were here” symbols

I hope you had a good time in marblehead. it's a fun place I used to live their and instantly recodnized that lighthouse :)

Hey Johnny, you have to read The Outlaw Oceans if you haven’t already. Great journalism by one of your NYT buddies.

0:40 "Live in the present" Johnny: *"Is that a... squiggly line I see?"*

Best wishes from Latvia!

I wish that school classes were this interesting and visually appealing 😊

lol I live in Maine and my husband works for that news channel in Maine you showed!

Two Johnny Harris videos consecutively, I am ecstatic :)

Johnny: I've looked at borders for countless hours on Google Maps Also Johnny: looking at maps and measurements is probably the most boring job

You should look into the Angle Inlet. A region of Minnesota that's surrounded by Canada and since the hardening of our borders due to COVID-19, has made life difficult for Minnesotans living there. Over the last couple of years they have even started creating ice highways on the lake to allow for easy access back to the US.

The most logical thing is that the most recent treaty would be the rule in effect. The other document was written before the British ceded that area to the US. A border document from over 150 years prior would be overwritten.

Turkey & Greece: You have a maritime border dispute over an island? Oh, that's cute...how about an inhabitable rock? EDIT: New video idea?

USA: Did he say OIL? FREEDOM JUICE

I dont know if I agree that occupation of the island by a member of the Canadian Military is totally unnecessary. If ever Canada did want to make a case for 'ownership', I believe that without the preemptive measures we see in this video, the American government would easily steam roll the Canadian government in a more serious dispute.

There has long been a similar dispute in the Pacific Northwest where the ocean treasure is salmon. American and Canadian commercial fishermen accuse each other of overfishing. I like the idea put forth here of setting aside a zone where neither side is permitted to fish, except that salmon don't behave like lobsters.

Thank you for posting great quality content ( twice this week !! )

Pretty sure we also had a border dispute along the pacific near Alaska. You’ll see Alaska juts down into Canada oddly covering a good chunk of the coast. Upon formation of the country it was a three way vote between the US, Canada, and Britain and Britain sided with the US knowing they would need to be buds. They already had Canada locked in as friends.

As a country side merican where we ride horses As we mericans say Violence is always the answer

Canada vs Denmark: Have some alcohol lmao! Finland vs Sweden: Ah, silly mistake, lets redraw the borders Canada vs US: An adult vs screaming children.

Fuzzy borders? I bet that hasn't happened anywhere else before...

I’m so glad I started following these videos (and Borders RIP). This stuff absolutely fascinates me but no one I know gets it. It’s so cool to watch these videos. Thank you Johnny!

Here in Maine lobstah is super important to us thanks for making a video about Maine(kinda)

That's why Hollywood is opening new show called *Lobster Wars* staring: *Keenu Reeves and Mel Gibson*

I became an official member of the early squad

Cool! I've actually visited this Island from Grand Manan, New Brunswick! We had to walk softly carrying a stick so that the birds wouldnt hit us on the head. They only allow 13 people from Canada and 13 from the USA to visit each day. We got to visit blinds where we could get close up photos of the puffins, razorbills, guillemots and terns.

there's several territory disputes between the US and Canada but they are rarely talked about.

Love the background track @2:17 which has been used in other videos too.

I am glad to see you active once again after the unfortunate event you've had lately, and by the way with such a very cool and interesting content! Can not wait to see the upcoming projects. Greeting from Algeria, North Africa.

Johnny, thank you for this video, and all your others. The work you do is incredibly important. Plus, you manage to present immensely important topics in a relatable and interesting way. I was really disappointed when I heard Vox was canceling “Borders.” But I am so happy that you are continuing to produce your trademark videos, and that you teamed up with The New York Times! Kudos. Keep up the great work! Your channel is always my first stop when I boot up RU-vid. Stay safe, can’t wait to see your future work!

They could just agree to make the island and the grey zone a nature park where fishing is either limited or forbidden there.

Wherever the British are involved they leave nothing but centuries-long conflicts: "If fishes are fighting on a stream, it's because an Englishman walked by" (old Native American saying, adopted and popularized in India and parts of Africa as well).

So cool to see New Brunswick on one of your videos! Not only did my neighbours (Americans) and us have disputes but actually right now in Nova Scotia, the indigenous and non-indigenous are clashing over fisheries too.

The way you advertise your sponsor is so creative and so smooth!

Real Talk keep it coming

12:22, hahaha this cracked me up! The next 5 seconds are pure gold!

this guy keeps exposing the US Government lol.

I highly recommend going to Google maps and checking out the ratings of the lighthouse, one of the funniest things I've ever seen

Love your videos. I'm from Nova Scotia and that's our island.

Love this

Geez. The production value is through the roof but he takes forever to get to his point.

Loved the video! One piece of feedback: as a public school geography educator, the moment you made a scoff at President Trump, was the moment I said to myself, what a great video I can’t show to my Geography classes. It’s a shame because this video is as good as anything you did on Vox Borders. But I and my peers won’t be able show any of your videos in our classes with this type of needless editorializing, regardless of if we agree politically.

As a Canadian, I might be biased, but I think you didn't focus enough on the Canadian local fishermen

any of these maine fishermen every hear of an aqua farm? lobster farms are a more secure and steady source of revenue, prevents overfishing in natural ecosystems, and you can avoid this dispute