There is some measure of debate about the authenticity of this claim. When I was here on a boat cruise, the bridge was referred to as the World's Shortest International Bridge by the tour guides.
Post Cards dated in 1966 also refer to this as the World's Shortest International Bridge. This certainly wouldn't be the first time something similar has happened.
There is a bridge going between two islands - the larger island is apparently in Ontario, Canada, while the smaller one (with the cross on it) is in New York, USA. There is a Canadian flag on one side of the bridge and an American flag on the other side.
From the New York Times: (
visit link)
"What many people refer to as the ''shortest international bridge in the world'' (near Rockport, Ontario, and Alexandria Bay, N.Y.) is a walking bridge that crosses the border at Zavikon Island and its smaller neighbor."
Wikipedia reports the claim as invalid - (
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"There is a pair of islands near Rockport called the Zavikon Island. A popular but incorrect tale among the local tourist guides is that the bigger island is in Canada, while the smaller one is in the USA, and the foot bridge between them is the shortest international bridge in the world. The Zavikon Island is located in the Canadian territory and belongs to the Leeds and Grenville municipal unit."
From another web source:
The boundary agreement in 1793 between the U.S. and Canadian Governments decided that no Island would be split in two, the
boundary line would run a 100 yards from any shore line, if this was not made possible, the line would run right down the middle
of Islands, and there would be problems on which Government would collect the taxes.
This explains why the boundary between the U.S. and Canada follows a zigzag line.Two thirds of the Islands are in Canadian territory but the total acreage of the Canadian and American Islands is closely equal.
If you don't have a boat, you can see this Island from many of the Thousand Island cruises that visit nearby Boldt Castle.