Photos from open sources of
Few people know that Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark have long been in state of war, however this confrontation is bloodless and causes only a condescending smile.
Two states can’t divide the tiny island of Hans, located in the Kennedy Strait between Greenland and Ellesmere. This piece of land covering an area of only 1.3 square kilometers completely uninhabited. There is no fertile soil, no plants, no living creatures.
It would seem, who needs such a useless stone block? Yes here only in international relations is it not customary to abandon one’s own claims in territory and Canada with Denmark for over 8 decades lead a strange conflict here. It consists in the fact that once in several months the island of Hans is visited by the Royal sailors Canadian Navy. They fly here the flag of Denmark, raise their banner and, leaving the enemy some modest gift, removed home. Then the Royal Danish naval forces that return their flag to their former position, take the present and, leaving in return another, just sail away in peace.
A photo from open sources
Hans Island Conflict History
The reason the gray block in the ocean became a canoe The stumbling block between the two countries is the location of the island. By chance, the island of Hans is located in the point where geography turned out to be stronger than international standards. The thing is that this piece of land is located right in the middle of the strait, separating Greenland and the Canadian territory of Nunavut. Considering boundaries of territorial waters, enshrined in international law, the island is simultaneously the territory of both Canada and Denmark. it a unique case, and therefore the claims of both parties can go on forever.
In 1933, the issue was raised at a hearing of the League of Nations, and the island of Hans eventually with a creak was given to Denmark. Nonetheless, remoteness of the disputed territory and the subsequent abolition of the League Nations led to the fact that this decision has lost all legal force. Canada and Denmark tried again in the 70s resolve the issue by drawing the sea border between each other, however neither side wanted to cede the tiny island of Hans to the other. And then, in view of more serious foreign policy issues, both States have long forgotten their disagreement.
Until 2004, Canadian Oppositionists Use the Island Hans as an occasion to increase the defense spending of his country. And in July 2005 Canadian sailors even landed on the island together with the Minister of Defense, erecting a stone sculpture there and hoisting your national flag. This naturally provoked a protest. from the Danish side. She hastened to strike back rivals, while maintaining benevolence and a sense of humor.
A photo from open sources
Alcohol war
The Danes arrived on the island of Hans and established their proud banner, having previously lowered the enemy. They also put on the stone is a bottle of good schnapps with the inscription: “Welcome to Danish land, help yourself. “Canadians in turn did subsequently a similar manipulation with flags and gratefully taken a drink. In exchange, they left a bottle of whiskey on the island under the sign: “Welcome to Canada.” This fun tradition, unofficially called the “Alcohol War”, supported by Canadian and Danish sailors to this day.
Island War
