The Canada-US Border Is The Longest International Border In The World. Here It Is Over Europe - Brilliant Maps (2025)

Last Updated: March 5, 2025 Leave a Comment

The map above shows how long the border between Canada and the US is when compared to Europe at the same latitude.

But as the original map author states: “The line shown here is only about 72% of the US-Canada border, and is shorter than the Russia-Kazakhstan border. The other 28% in Alaska makes the US-Canada border the longest in the world.”

In total the border measures 8,891 km (5,525 mi), of which 6,416 km (3,987 mi) is between the contiguous 48 states and Canada, and 2,475 km (1,538 mi) between Alaska and British Columbia and the Yukon.

Here are some more facts about the border along with a few more maps:

1. 13 out of 50 US states have a border with Canada, while 8 out of 13 Canadian provinces and territories have a border with the US.
2. Ontario has the longest border at 2,727 km (1,682 mi), followed by Alaska at 2,475 km (1,538 mi) and British Colombia at 2,168 km (1,347 mi).
3. US Customs maintains pre-clearance facilities at nine Canadian airports with nonstop air service to the United States from 8 cities: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa , Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. These allow flights originating in Canada to land at a U.S. airport without being processed as an international arrival. Canada does not maintain equivalent personnel at U.S. airports due to the limited number of Canada-bound flights from U.S. locations.
4. The Canada–U.S. border has six airports and eleven seaplane bases whose runways straddle the borderline. Such airports were built before the U.S. entry into World War II as a way to legally transfer U.S.-built aircraft, such as the Lockheed Hudson, to Canada under the provisions of the Lend-Lease Act.
5. There are 119 legal land border crossings between the United States and Canada, 26 of which take place at a bridge or tunnel. You can see the full list here.
6. 2 of the 119 crossings are one-way: the Churubusco–Franklin Centre Border Crossing, where travelers may enter only the United States; and the Four Falls Border Crossing, where travelers may enter only Canada.
7. Six roads have unstaffed road crossings, and do not have border inspection services in one or both directions, where travelers are legally allowed to cross the border.
8. There are 39 railroads that cross the U.S.–Canada border, nine of which are no longer in use. Eleven of these railroads cross the border at a bridge or tunnel.
9. There are 13 international ferry crossings operating between the U.S. and Canada. Two of them carry passengers only and one carries only rail cars.
10. There are at least 7 different places where buildings are built directly on the border (more on those below).
11. Each country also has practical exclaves in each other (more on those below)
12. And while the vast majority of border has been established for centuries, there remain a few disputes (more on those below).

Cross-Border Buildings

1. The Haskell Free Library and Opera House straddles the border in Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec.
2. Private homes divided by the boundary line between Estcourt Station, Maine, and Pohénégamook, Quebec.
3. Private homes divided between Beebe Plain, Quebec, and Beebe Plain, Vermont (also the only place where the border lies in the middle of a street).
4. A seasonal home divided at the intersection of Matthias Lane in Alburgh, Vermont, and Chemin au Bord de l’Eau in Noyan, Quebec.
5. A house divided between Richford, Vermont, and Abercorn, Quebec.
6. The Halfway House (also known as Taillon’s International Hotel) is a tavern, built-in 1820 before the border was surveyed, that straddles the border between Dundee, Quebec, and Fort Covington, New York.
7. The Aroostook Valley Country Club lies on The Maine–New Brunswick border.

Practical Exclaves

These are bits of each country where there is no practical land route to it, without crossing into the other country’s territory.

Practical exclaves of Canada

• The western portion of the Akwesasne reserve in Quebec
• Campobello Island, New Brunswick
• Premier, British Columbia, is an abandoned mining site accessible only through Hyder, Alaska.

Practical exclaves of the United States

• While Alaska is by far the biggest state by land area (more than 2X the size of Texas) it is technically a US exclave.
• Hyder, Alaska
• Haines and Skagway, Alaska
• Point Roberts, Washington
• Elm Point, Minnesota
• Alburgh Tongue, and Province Point, Vermont

Remaining Boundary Disputes

• Machias Seal IslandandNorth Rock(Maine/New Brunswick)
• Dixon Entrance(Alaska/British Columbia)
• Beaufort Sea(Alaska /Yukon)
• Strait of Juan de Fuca(Washington/ British Columbia)

More Canada US Border Maps

US Counties on the Canada-US border (Green = land border, and Blue = Water Border).

Longest Canada-US Border By US State

Longest Canada-US Border By Canadian Province

This means only Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador, The Northwest Territories and Nunavut are the only 5 Canadian provinces and territories without a US border.

What do you think?