Tiny island subject of dispute between Canada and U.S.

[alp227]

A tiny island between New Brunswick and Maine is the subject of renewed calls from both sides of the border to settle a territorial dispute once and for all.

Machias Seal Island is a flat, treeless piece of rock located about 19 kilometres south of Grand Manan Island and 16 kilometres west of the Maine coast at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy.

The island is a sanctuary for many kinds of seabirds including the Atlantic Puffin and draws visitors from around the world to observe them in the summer.

There are no permanent human residents on the island, just pairs of lightkeepers who spend 28 days at a time maintaining a lighthouse operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.

full: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2012/12/23/nb-machias-seal-island.html

[NYC_SKP]

1. The Bay of Fundy experiences daily tides of over 40 feet, IIRC.

Quite remarkable!

[ellisonz]

2. USA! USA! USA!

[HereSince1628]

3. Considering the economy I'm sure 10 more miles of economic zone control

Is pretty important. I expect Canada and Denmark will have some issues in the Arctic as well, maybe even Canada and Russia

[applegrove]

4. Here is an old joke:

Believe it or not...this is the transcript of an actual radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of New Brunswick?Maine in October 1995. The Radio conversation was released by the Chief of Naval Operations on Oct. 10, 1995.

US Ship: Please divert your course 0.5 degrees to the south to avoid a collision.

CND reply: Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

US Ship: This is the Captain of a US Navy Ship. I say again, divert your course.

CND reply: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course!

US Ship: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CORAL SEA*, WE ARE A LARGE WARSHIP OF THE US NAVY. DIVERT YOUR COURSE NOW!!

CND reply: This is a lighthouse. Your call.

[MattBaggins]

5. Believe it or not... It's not

Old school urban myth.

[applegrove]

6. I will put the reference to it being a joke at the start of the quote.

[cpwm17]

7. The birds I saw on Machias Seal Island I counted on my US list

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1208316

–so take that Canada.

It's the best place in the US to see Atlantic Puffins. Canadians run the place and protect the birds.

[Gman]

8. Just cut cards for it

High card wins. End of dispute.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

9. Canadians. They walk among us. nt

[Historic NY]

10. Its fairly close to Maine shore and its below the boundary....

What can we get on trade?