Map & Territory
The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong
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The Lake of the Woods
In 1818, the UK and US signed another treaty establishing the 49th parallel as the boundary for most of Canada and America. The Americans weren't keen on giving up any of the territory they'd already agreed upon - even though nobody knew what that territory was exactly. In deciding the most northwest point of the lake, he incidentally put 596 miles of Canadian land in American hands. Today, Ingle Township, Oak Island, and Elm Point are some of the only practical ex-quaves in the lower continental United States. To reach them, Americans must either pass over water or through Canada.
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