Fact Check: World's Shortest International Bridge, Connecting a Homeowner in Canada to His Backyard in New York
A small footbridge between two islands near the U.S.–Canada border has gone viral as the “world’s shortest international bridge,” yet an official fact-check reveals a striking truth behind the story.
A claim circulating online holds that a homeowner in Canada crosses a 32-foot-long bridge from their residence to a backyard in New York. The notion caught fire on social media, with posts declaring that the bridge physically connects Canada and the United States. But investigative sources paint a different picture.
The bridge does exist, spanning two islands in Ontario’s Thousand Islands region. It connects Zavikon Island and a smaller adjacent island across a span of roughly 32 feet. Observers have pointed to a Canadian flag positioned on one side and an American flag on the other, accompanied by a Hungarian flag (displaying the owner’s heritage) as if signaling an international border. The tale behind the imagery traces back to a late-19th-century story that fueled local lore and tourism interest.
Authorities tasked with the matter, including Natural Resources Canada, confirm that both Zavikon Island and its neighboring landmass fall entirely within Canadian territory, not straddling an international boundary.
Snopes, a reputable fact-checking site, classifies the claim as false, underscoring that the bridge lies wholly within Canadian borders.
The myth persists, however, fueled by appealing narratives and imagery. Tourist-oriented websites and media, such as WRRV, have repeated the bridge’s supposed fame as the “world’s shortest international bridge,” asserting it connects a homeowner’s Canadian residence to their U.S. backyard. Another account published by Supercar Blondie carried similar claims, stating that the second island belongs to New York and that the bridge makes the homeowner a resident of two countries simultaneously.
On the more speculative side, Jalopnik ran a feature with a light tone, citing Atlas Obscura’s description of the bridge as an “international crossing,” while also noting questions over its authenticity.
Residents and tourism operators in the Thousand Islands region presumably enjoy the story’s charm. Yet official cartographic records place both islands firmly in Ontario, undermining the idea of a literal cross-border link.
At the same time, local tourism organizations acknowledge the tale’s persistence. The Gananoque 1000 Islands Visitor Center calls it a “popular but incorrect tale” and reiterates that the bridge does not cross an international boundary. Atlas Obscura traced the myth back to late 19th-century lore tied to the tiny span.
The precise ownership details of the two islands remain partly unclear. Snopes reports that while the property exists, it could not confirm whether both islands belong to the same homeowner. Wikipedia notes that the islands were acquired in 1976 by a couple, Donald Rickerd and Julie Rékai Rickerd, and that the boundary’s closest turning point lies some 140 metres from the smaller island’s southern tip, not between the islands themselves.
The glitch in the viral narrative appears rooted in a blend of vivid imagery and storytelling. The juxtaposition of national symbols and a slender footbridge fanning the idea of an international crossing seems to have captivated imaginations. Yet cartography and government data remain steadfast: the bridge is Canadian through and through.
The story underscores how appealing legends can overshadow verified facts, especially when geography and a dash of drama are at play. The small bridge continues to fascinate, not as a literal cross-border passage, but as an artifact of myth, tourism, and regional identity.
