After years of "joint occupancy" and the American political slogan "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!" (referring to a more northern line), the two nations compromised by extending the 49th-parallel boundary all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The border is a "mathematical" line that often defies local geography, cutting through watersheds, mountains, and forests. 49th Parallel
A notable exception occurs at Vancouver Island, where the border swings south to ensure the entire island remains British. Geographic and Cultural Impact After years of "joint occupancy" and the American