Maybe you've seen the photo. Two small islands sit in a sparkling river, one with a summer home and one barely big enough for a few trees. A short footbridge links them, with a Canadian flag at one end and an American flag at the other. The caption calls it the world's shortest international bridge.
It's a great story, but it isn't true. The islands are Zavikon Island and Little Zavikon Island in the Thousand Islands, on the St. Lawrence River. According to Canada's official topographic map, both islands are entirely in Canada. The bridge never crosses the border at all.
Where the Border Really Is
Zavikon Island sits about 200 meters, roughly 660 feet, north of the boundary between Canada and the United States, about a mile and a quarter southeast of the village of Rockport, Ontario. It's part of an Ontario township called Leeds and the Thousand Islands. The estate there has been a private country retreat since the early 1900s, and it actually includes three officially recognized islands, not two.
The smaller island even has a marker used by the boundary commission to calculate the border line in that part of the river. But the actual turning point of the border is about 140 meters, or roughly 460 feet, southeast of Little Zavikon's southern tip. Close, but no crossing.
So Why the Two Flags?
The flags are a big part of the legend. The islands were bought in April 1975 by Donald Rickerd. A Canadian flag hangs near the larger island, an American flag hangs at the other end, and a Hungarian flag flies in the middle in honor of his wife's Hungarian heritage.
It's a charming touch, and it's easy to see how a photo of those flags turned into a tall tale. But it's decoration, not geography.
A Bridge That Really Is International
If you want a tiny bridge that truly connects two countries, head to Europe. A wooden bridge links the Portuguese village of Várzea Grande with the Spanish village of El Marco, part of the towns of Arronches and La Codosera. It's only 3.2 meters long, about 10 and a half feet. Walk across, and you've changed countries in a few steps.
The Thousand Islands Are Full of Surprises
The Zavikon story fits right into its neighborhood. The Thousand Islands are actually 1,864 islands spread across about 50 miles of the St. Lawrence River, downstream from Kingston, Ontario. Some islands are in Ontario and some are in New York.
There's even a rule for what counts as an island. It needs at least one square foot of land above water all year and must support at least two living trees. Islands range from more than 40 square miles down to rocky spots with room for just one house.
The region may also have given its name to Thousand Island salad dressing, though nobody can prove which local origin story is true. One version credits a fishing guide's wife, Sophia LaLonde. Another involves George Boldt, who built the famous Boldt Castle there and ran New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
So the little bridge at Zavikon may not cross a border, but it's still a lovely spot with a fun story. And now you can be the one at the table who knows the real answer the next time that photo makes the rounds.
