The Zavikon Island bridge is an interesting piece of geography and history in the Saint Lawrence River, between Canada and the United States. This tiny bridge is just 32 feet long and is often said to be the shortest international bridge in the world.
The bridge was connects two small islands in the Saint Lawrence River. One of the islands, Zavikon Island, is on the Canadian side. The other smaller island is very close to the United States, in New York. Even though they are close to the border, both islands and the bridge are entirely in Canada.
The bridge’s story goes back to the late 19th century. At that time, a merchant named Elmer Andress owned the islands and had a home on the larger, Canadian island. He built the short bridge to connect his home to the smaller island, which he used as a backyard.
Over the years, the Zavikon Island bridge has fascinated many people. The idea of an “international” bridge connecting a homeowner’s property across the Canada-US border became a popular story, even though it isn’t completely true.
While the bridge is real and the islands are very close to the border, they are both in Canada. The Canada-US border agreement says no island can be split between the two countries, so even though the islands are very near the American side, they belong entirely to Canada.
Even though the claim of an “international bridge” is not accurate, the Zavikon Island bridge is still an interesting curiosity. It is part of the Thousand Islands archipelago, which is a popular spot for tourists exploring the beautiful and unique landscape of the region.
Whether you think of it as the world’s shortest international bridge or just a charming link between two Canadian islands, the Zavikon Island bridge shows the interesting geography and history of the Saint Lawrence River and the border between Canada and the United States.
