• Hungarian forint
  • Budapest
  • Police news
  • HelloMagyar
Check out the story of one of the world’s shortest bridge that was owned by HungariansCheck out the story of one of the world’s shortest bridge that was owned by HungariansCheck out the story of one of the world’s shortest bridge that was owned by HungariansCheck out the story of one of the world’s shortest bridge that was owned by Hungarians
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Society
  • Sport
  • Culture
  • Special Hungary
  • News To Go
  • World
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
✕
Important
  • VIDEOS: Johnny Depp, Al Pacino popped up in Budapest office building

  • Official price list: e-vignette prices to skyrocket in Hungary in 2024

Support us
Kitti Tordai Kitti Tordai · 21/04/2020
· World

Check out the story of one of the world’s shortest bridge that was owned by Hungarians

Zavikon Island bridge Hungarian

Photo: www.facebook.com/Zavikon Island/

Did you know that the world’s shortest international bridge has been under Hungarian ownership since 1976?! The 9.5 meters long bridge crosses the St. Lawrence River, between the borders of the United States and Canada.

The nearly 1,200-kilometre-long St. Lawrence River served as the main transport route for European explorers, such as Jacques Cartier, the namesake of Canada. The huge river surrounds approximately 1,692 islands (according to other sources even more), whose size varies greatly – ranging from 0.09 m2 to 103.6 km2. While on the smaller sand heaps only a bush or a family house can be discovered, the larger islands give a home to entire communities.

Among the archipelagos of the river, the most exciting pair of lands are the Zavikon Islands, which means “Happy Tent” in the Indian language. The larger island has a territory of 1.5 hectares, while the smaller Kiwa is only 0.5 hectare.

Read alsoLife across the ocean, a Hungarian expat in Canada – Interview
History

After the border between the United States and Canada had been set along the St. Lawrence River in 1793, the more extensive land got into the ownership of Ottawa, while Washington owned the smaller one. In 1902, Elmer Andress entrepreneur built his “German-style” villa on the larger Canadian island of Zavikon. The merchant wanted to build a vegetable garden and a pier around his home that could be realised on the smaller Kiwa island. This was the point when the 9.5-meter-long wooden bridge was created between the two lands, that enabled him to cross the two islands easily.

Due to its speciality, the tiny bridge was named as the “backyard border crossing” by the North American press who also considered the wooden crossing as “the world’s shortest international bridge”.

Due to the propaganda, the larger island was hoisted by the British Empire (Canada had an independent flag from 1931), and the United States flagged the smaller one. Even a geodetic stone was erected in the middle of the smaller land. In 1967, the American-Canadian Boundary Commission placed the smaller island under Canadian jurisdiction, setting the new border 140 meters southwest of the southern tip of the former U.S. island. This amendment is still valid today.

Hungarian ownership

Due to the respect of traditions, the family living on the island still hoist the flags of the former dominating lords of the two river gems; accordingly, the Hungarian flag is also adorned in the middle of the small wooden bridge. No trick!

In 1976, the islands were bought by the Toronto-based Donald Rickerd and his wife of Hungarian descent, Julie Rékai Rickerd.

According to falanszter.blog.hu, Julie’s ancestors were among the elite of Canadian social life. Her mother, Kati Rékai was born in Budapest in 1921, under the name of Katalin Desider. With her husband Dr János Rékai, they escaped from the Hungarian communist regime in 1948. First, the family emigrated to Paris and then to Canada. Kati Rékai became famous for her 20-volume children’s book series, introducing the diversity of environment to the world’s multiethnic children. She was a leading member of the Canadian Writers Association, and had a significant role in the international promotion of Canadian literature – she organised reading tours, introductions and exhibitions for overseas authors. She considered the preservation of culture and relations of emigrant communities as one of her main tasks. The North American press also called her the “First Lady of Toronto.” Ottawa rewarded her work with the Canadian Cross of Valour.

Julie’s father, Dr János Rékai, was a surgeon who – along with his brother, Dr Pál Rékai – established Canada’s first “multicultural” hospital in 1957, communicating in 36 different languages. The medical centre and nursing home now operate as one of Toronto’s central hospitals. Dr János Rékai was also awarded the Canadian Cross of Valour.

Read alsoHungarian state officials mark national holiday in US, Canada

Source: falanszter.blog.hu

If you would like to support the work of the Daily News Hungary staff and independent journalism,
please make a donation here
Canada construction History Hungarians abroad Hungary United States
Share

Hot news

  • Big success at the 28th Budapest International Book Festival – Photos

  • Finally, positive news on Hungary’s trade surplus

  • Türkiye suicide bombing: Hungarian Foreign Minister blames migration and radical ideologies

  • Wizz Air modified seats given out to passengers in an outrageous way

  • Government: EU wants to settle illegal migrants

  • What happened today in Hungary? – 1 October, 2023

4 Comments

  1. Jana Millen says:
    29/12/2020 at 22:49

    I vacationed on this island numerous times as a child. And I am wondering if there is a way to write a letter to the current owner. Any information that can be shared so that I can get in touch with them would be appreciated. Thank you

  2. Jana Millen says:
    29/12/2020 at 22:50

    I vacationed on this island numerous times as a child. And I am wondering if there is a way to write a letter to the current owner. Any information that can be shared so that I can get in touch with them would be appreciated. Thank you.

  3. P.Silva says:
    08/01/2023 at 19:53

    You know that’s not true right? The smallest bridge is between the municipality of Esperança in Portugal and the municipality of La Codosera in Spain and has less than 20 feet (6 meters). You’re welcome 😉

  4. Eleonora Jobst says:
    08/01/2023 at 21:13

    Dear P. Silva, thanks for the info. We’ll do some amendments shortly. Thank you for reading us!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUPPORT US
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Must read

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive daily updates, news & stories about Hungary!

Select your location below or enter your country so we can deliver our morning newsletters to you in time.

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Contact us

About us

Copyright rules

Privacy policy

Advertise with us

© 2023 DailyNewsHungary. All rights reserved! | Server and development by Svigelj Levente E.V
Big success at the 28th Budapest International Book Festival – Photos

Big success at the 28th Budapest International Book Festival – Photos

Read More
Finally, positive news on Hungary’s trade surplus

Finally, positive news on Hungary’s trade surplus

Read More
Türkiye suicide bombing: Hungarian Foreign Minister blames migration and radical ideologies

Türkiye suicide bombing: Hungarian Foreign Minister blames migration and radical ideologies

Read More
Wizz Air modified seats given out to passengers in an outrageous way

Wizz Air modified seats given out to passengers in an outrageous way

Read More
Government: EU wants to settle illegal migrants

Government: EU wants to settle illegal migrants

Read More
What happened today in Hungary? – 1 October, 2023

What happened today in Hungary? – 1 October, 2023

Read More
Wizz Air announces European capital as newest destination from October

Wizz Air announces European capital as newest destination from October

Read More
International Day of Older Persons: PM Orbán promises pension supplement

International Day of Older Persons: PM Orbán promises pension supplement

Read More
PHOTOS: Here is Hungary’s best burger

PHOTOS: Here is Hungary’s best burger

Read More
This city at Lake Balaton will be Hungary’s new conference hub: centre inaugurated – PHOTOS

This city at Lake Balaton will be Hungary’s new conference hub: centre inaugurated – PHOTOS

Read More
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Have you read it?