If you had to take a test and answer the question, “Is Canada north or south of Detroit?” you’d probably circle north with absolute confidence. Makes sense to you if you were unaware of political geography. After all, maps in school, movies and everyday conversation all reinforce that idea. They always mention that USA is below Canada. But guess what? Technically, it is correct but you would be wrong in this case. But Canada (at least a part of it) is actually south of Detroit. It somehow winds below the US. Yes, you read that correctly. Refer a map immediately. Detroit (Michigan), that famous American city known for it’s automotive industry, Motown music and a rather gritty reputation, has a Canadian neighbour that sits below it on the map. It is a shocking fact to discover.
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Lakes, rivers and the moulding of borders – How is Canada south of Detroit?
This whole brain-bending fact comes down to the way the Detroit River snakes between the two countries. It is a determining factor in shaping the borders. To understand this geographical oddity, let’s take a quick trip to the border between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario (it’s Canadian counterpart). That way, it becomes understandable. Most of the Canada-US border runs in a fairly predictable way i.e. Canada is up and America is down. It has been that way all across the border since the countries were established. However, history and nature have played a part in shaping borders that defy simple directional logic. It happens in few locations across the Canada-US border. When you reach Detroit, the script gets flipped. Things change here. The city of Windsor (which is in Ontario) is actually positioned directly south of Detroit. It curves in such a way like a Yin-yang circle. So, if you were in downtown Detroit and wanted to visit Canada, you wouldn’t travel north. You could also travel the long route east if you wanted to get to Canada.
Normally, rivers don’t pay much attention to political borders but in this case, the river flows southward from Lake St. Clair down into Lake Erie. It cuts between the 2 countries. You’d head south in Detroit, cross the Detroit River and find yourself in Windsor. That's the proper direction to easily go to Canada from Detroit. Why? Because the Detroit River (which separates the two cities) flows from Lake St. Clair in the north down into Lake Erie in the south and creates a north-to-south flow. There is the international border between Detroit and Windsor. And Windsor is sitting right there just below Detroit, waiting to mess with your understanding of world geography. Unless you are a local, you'll find it a wonderful thing to realize.
The peculiar orientation of the Great Lakes has left it’s mark on the border between the two nations. Both countries had to come up with this kind of border separation. Unlike many straight-lined boundaries, the Great Lakes region is a tapestry of islands, peninsulas and winding coastlines. They make up for a unique natural challenge in determining boundaries between Canada and US. Detroit’s position in the southeastern corner of Michigan means that it shares it’s waters with a Canadian city that challenges our basic compass readings. It gets a bit technical if you dig deep. This fascinating twist in geography is a reminder that natural features rarely conform to the neat boxes of our maps. Nature has a mind of it's own that won't comply with mankind's wishes. The interplay between landmasses and water bodies often creates borders that seem to contradict common expectations. And hence, we are left with oddities like this.
But wait…why does this feel so wrong?
If you’ve been conditioned to think of Canada as a land of maple syrup, moose and vast snowy expanses all sitting comfortably above the US, you are not alone. It's a global phenomena. The whole world thinks that Canada is in it's entirety to the north of USA. This belief is hammered into people from an early age. There is no escaping the indoctrination. Hollywood movies, maps in schools and even common phrases like ‘going up to Canada’ or ‘heading down to the States’ reinforce the notion that Canada is perpetually located northward. People grow up unassuming that part of Canada lies to the south of USA. Yet, Canada is a massive country, stretching across six time zones and it’s geography doesn’t follow neat linear rules. Of course, it is linear at some borders but then not majorly. While the vast majority of Canada does indeed lie north of the United States, there are exceptions. They have to be told about and spoken about. Windsor is one of them but it’s not alone. There are few other locations just like Windsor which are comfortable being south to the United States.
The Great Lakes region (in particular) has an unusual layout that creates unexpected geographical oddities like Detroit having a southern Canadian neighbour. They are responsible for shaping the borders. And if you think this is the only place where Canada dips below the United States, it is not. There are other spots too. Here’s a little geographical curveball. This will get you scratching your head. There are even places in Canada where you can look north and see the northern United States. Point Pelee in Ontario for instance, sticks out into Lake Erie and sits south of several parts of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. That is crazy! If you ever find yourself standing on the southern tip of Point Pelee National Park, congratulations you are standing further south than some Americans. It is a wonderful thing to think of.
Canada’s southern secret – Windsor
Windsor (Ontario) is not only famous for it’s automotive industry and cultural ties with Detroit but it also holds a peculiar place on the map. The way it is situated looks like it was trapped by the United States. Here, geography rebels against convention. Canada takes a detour. While the majority of Canada extends to the north, Windsor’s location on the river’s southern bank means that it’s latitude is slightly lower than that of it’s American counterpart across the water. Hence, placing it south of an entire nation. This reversal may seem trivial but it offers a striking example of how our mental maps can be misleading. It plays on the mind when the news is given. In everyday life, this anomaly rarely causes practical problems yet it provides a rich source of conversation fodder and trivia for those who appreciate the quirks of geography. It'd would be reason for disputes for a fan of geography and they don't know this.
The geography of the Great Lakes region
To really appreciate why Windsor ended up south of Detroit, you need to understand the peculiar layout of the Great Lakes. A correct understanding will put away any apprehensions. The lakes are not arranged in a straight east-to-west line. They aren't rivers of the Minecraft game. Instead, they twist and turn with some of their shorelines curving in unexpected ways. The closer you zoom in on them, it becomes noticeable.
Detroit itself is positioned in the southeastern part of
Michigan which is a state that is already unusual because it’s divided into two
separate peninsulas namely the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. The design makes them look unfitting. This
quirky geography means that while Detroit is generally in the northern part of
the US, it’s specific location relative to Windsor means it ended up looking
north across the river into Canada. Now it makes sense.
Canada-US mashup
The Detroit-Windsor story is not the only instance where
North American geography plays tricks on our perceptions. It is just one of the few. Consider these other
examples:
Point Pelee, Ontario (the southernmost tip of mainland
Canada) – If you head about 50 kilometres southeast of Windsor, you’ll find
Point Pelee National Park which is a long narrow peninsula that juts into Lake
Erie. It is like a tail of the area. This spot is so far south that it sits below parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania
and even northern California. So, technically even they are south of the USA. In fact, Point Pelee is at the same latitude as Rome
in Italy. Amazing huh? Yes, Rome — the city of gladiators, pasta and that chaotic traffic. That's Point Pelee. Not
exactly what you picture when you think of Canada, right? There's more.
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| Point Pelee and the tip of Pelee Island |
Pelee Island (Canada’s even more southern surprise) – If you want to go even further south than Point Pelee, you’ll need to hop on a ferry to Pelee Island. It is an island in the Great Lakes. This tiny island which is also in Lake Erie, is the absolute southernmost inhabited part of Canada. Perhaps it is the last possession of Canada to the south in terms of land. It’s closer to Cleveland (Ohio) than it is to the most of Ontario. The island is more of USA-like than Canada. This means there are Canadians who live south of a huge chunk of Americans. Of course, it has to be that way given how accessible it is to the US than Canada while still being a Canadian land. And if that doesn’t mess with your perception of geography, I don’t know what will. Just kidding.
In the United States, the Northwest Angle in Minnesota – is a small sliver of land entirely encircled by Canada. This is just like Pelee Island above but for the USA. In fact, accessing it by road from the rest of the country requires a detour through Canadian territory. Once you traverse through Canada, you get to reach this American land. That is a reminder of how borders can complicate even the simplest journeys. That is amazing how international borders can take shape.
Other geographical oddities in North America – Beyond Detroit
Now that you are questioning everything that you thought you knew about maps and that your worldview has been thoroughly shaken, let’s sprinkle in some more surprising geographical quirks to keep the fun going. It will be exciting!
Alaska is the easternmost, northernmost and the westernmost state in the US – This might sound like someone’s making things up but it’s true. Take a map right now to appreciate this fact. Alaska stretches so far west that it actually crosses into the Eastern Hemisphere that makes it both the easternmost and westernmost US state. Alaska also lies above Canada is a US state. It is also thus (of course) the northernmost state of the Americans.
Maine is the only US state that borders just one other state – While most states in the US are crammed next to multiple neighbours, Maine is a bit of a loner in only touching New Hampshire. The rest of Maine's borders are in contact with Canada. Every other state of the US has a border with another US state except Maine.
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| Maine |
The US has a town called Canada and Canada has a town called USA – Alright not exactly but there is a Canada, Kansas and a town called Usa, Japan which once led to speculation that products labelled Made in USA were actually made in Japan. I know, it's crazy!
There’s a place where you can walk from the US to Canada without crossing a border station – The town of Derby Line in Vermont sits right on the US-Canada border with some buildings straddling both countries. Borders between Canada and the States aren't hostile like you see in many countries. They have a social understanding. The border runs straight through buildings, streets and then even a library. Of course, figuratively but it's still a boundary. For example, the Haskell Free Library and Opera House literally has it’s entrance in the US and it’s reading room in Canada. That is a special set up and it feels wonderful. You might be in Canada but if you walk to the other side of the room, you are back in the US. There are no physical separation in such borders.
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| Haskell Free Library and Opera House |
Four US states meet at 1 single point – If you visit Four Corners, you can stand in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah all at the same time. The point is a unique state border in the USA and perhaps the world. It is the only place in the US where 4 states touch borders. Again, there are no physical boundaries that separate the 4 states here. A monument is set up at the location and tourists can visit the Four Corners.
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| Four Corners, USA |
Minnesota has a chunk of land that is entirely surrounded by Canada – This little piece of land called the Northwest Angle is the only part of the continental US that lies above the 49th parallel. Meaning, it is surrounded by Canadian mainland. To get there by land, you actually have to drive through Canada. It's like this - you drive from USA into Canada and then back into USA to get there.
Canada has an island inside a lake inside an island
inside a lake inside an island – If that sentence made your brain hurt,
just know that Victoria Island in Nunavut contains a lake which contains an
island which contains a smaller lake which further contains yet another island. This is an insane work of nature just to irritate our brains. It’s an islandception!
Laughter, life and learning from geography
At first, learning that Canada is south of Detroit might seem like just a fun pub trivia fact. It might even seem wrong if you didn't know your geography. But it actually challenges the way we think about geography. It makes us take immediate notice and contest what we've known since childhood. We tend to assume that borders and locations follow simple rules of north is up, south is down and countries are always where we expect them to be. Even in the wildest imaginations could anyone think that USA can lie below Canada. But the real world isn’t that neat. It compels you to research for the truth and change your understanding of things. Rivers, lakes, peninsulas and islands create all sorts of geographical oddities that don’t fit into clean categories. Our mapping has to wind around to accommodate them all. Learning about these quirks helps us appreciate how fascinating and unpredictable our planet really is. It plays the highest role in shaping international boundaries. And of course, it gives you an amazing fact to drop in casual conversations...
"Did you know you have to travel south to get to Canada from Detroit?"
"Actually, there are places in Canada that are further south than parts of California"
"Alaska is both the westernmost and easternmost state in the US"
Watch as people's faces scrunch up in confusion and enjoy your moment of intellectual superiority. The will refuse to accept what you've said or believe you. At the end of the day, geography is full of surprises and understanding these oddities can make us appreciate just how weird and wonderful our world is. It is enough to blow your mind and surprise you. Learning that Canada is south of Detroit might not change your life but it does challenge assumptions and makes you realise that what seems obvious isn’t always true. It's just a nice fact to know and share with someone. Plus, the next time someone confidently declares that Canada is always north of the United States, you can drop this little knowledge bomb and watch their brain short-circuit for a moment. They might worship you for it.
And that, my friend, is a small but satisfying victory. A little fun in this messed up life. So, whether you are a trivia buff looking to impress your friends, a geography enthusiast craving a deeper appreciation of maps or just someone who enjoys blowing people’s minds with unexpected facts, remember this. Sometimes, even the most basic truths aren’t as straightforward as they seem. And sometimes, just sometimes, Canada is south of the United States.
#canada #detroit #fact #geography #trivia #map #fun
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