Canada Ends its Longest "War"

[Mark in Ottawa]

For about 50 years Canada and Denmark have been feuding over the ownership of a tiny rock island in the High Arctic between Greenland to the east and Canada to the west. The island, called Han Island is about a half mile square and sits pretty much on the border between the two countries. Both countries claim the rock and due to a mix of sovereignty ideals and possible claims on undersea resources, neither side would budge

The dispute has been marked by a number of unique actions by the navies of both countries. Things started to heat up about 30 years ago when the Danish navy put up a pole and erected a Danish flag. On their next visit, the Royal Canadian Navy took down the Danish flag, erected a Canadian flag and left a bottle of Canadian whisky at the foot of the pole. When the Danish navy next visited, they replaced the Canadian flag with a Danish flag, took the whisky and left a bottle of aquavit. The Canadians then reversed the process and left another bottle of Canadian whisky. This "war of booze and flags" has been going on ever since.

The other day, however, the war ended. After decades of negotiations, the two countries agreed to set the border in the middle of the island.

The effect of this is that you can now walk from Canada to Denmark (assuming that you can actually get to Han Island) but since the island is uninhabited, there are no plans to set up a customs post

[dryheat]

Big silly fun.

[dogtag]

What are both parties going to do now ? Oh, I nknow. With all that booze ? party of course.

[Allen]

No one wants to give up land. It's a wonder the Chinese didn't try to take it.

Over time, they will both save a lot of $ not having to supply the flags and whiskey along with the trips to the island.

[dogtag]

If they don't guard it, it will be taken over by migrants waving fake Danish passports

[barretcreek]

Now get rid of the Vichy remnant on St. Pierre and Miquelon. I understand it's just a bunch of smugglers.