Canada's Neighbors: The U.S., Greenland... and France??

Saint Pierre & Miquelon Flag

It is well known that Canada's only land borders are with the United States. Greenland can also be considered a neighbor, since one of its frozen remote islands is only 15 maritime miles from one of Canada's remote frozen islands. However, did you know that France is even closer?

Just 6 miles south of Newfoundland is Saint Pierre & Miquelon, a group of islands covering 93 square miles. SP&M is a "territorial collectivity" of France, which means it is an integral part of the French Republic. Its 7,000 inhabitants are French citizens, speak French, and use the European euro as local currency. The territory is in its own unique time zone; electrical outlets are configured to the European 220-volt standard, and passports are required for entry. The collectivity sends a deputy to the French National Assembly, and a senator to the French Senate.

Great Britain ceded the islands to France in 1816, after ownership had passed back and forth between those powers numerous times. To this day, they remain the final remnants of the great New France colonial empire. The only question that remains is whether the inhabitants are rude and use too much cologne.