Did you know that there's an island that is French for half the year and Spanish the other half? Not only that, it has a particularly bizarre history involving princess-swaps and hostage-handovers. Welcome to 'Pheasant Island'.
Pheasant Island, an uninhabited isle on the Bidasoa river, is governed by Spain from February 1 to July 31, at which point it is handed over to the French for six months.
During those times when mental health awareness was not a thing yet, there were kings and queens who sat on their thrones, regardless of their capabilities (or the lack thereof) to make sound decisions.
The interesting tale of Pheasant Island that changes countries every six months
Times of IndiaTIMESOFINDIA.COM|TRAVEL NEWS, WORLD Updated : May 10, 2021, 18:23 IST
You might be surprised after reading the title! Well, you must as the story behind the Pheasant Island is as interesting as it can get. Pheasant Island is an uninhabited river island set in the Bidasoa River which flows between France and Spain.
A condominium island between France and Spain
The island is basically a condominium that was set by the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659. The treaty was signed jointly by Spain and France, wherein the condominium went officially under the governance of the naval commanders of Spain from 1 February to 31 July and of France from 1 August to 31 January. So because of this treaty, the island remains under Spain for six months and under France for another six months.
Illustration by Myriam Wares, Published 14:35, Apr. 14, 2021
In 2017, the head of Canada’s largest labour organization sat down with Ahmed Hussen, then minister of immigration, to discuss an idea that had bubbled up from a building trades union in Toronto. The Canadian Labour Congress suggested testing a program that would invite an underground workforce into the light. According to the CLC’s estimates, thousands of carpenters, concrete finishers, and other foreign tradespeople were working in the region without the legal right to do so. Some had expired work permits; others had originally entered Canada as students or tourists and never had a work permit. With the construction sector expecting a quarter of its workforce to retire in the coming years, the building boom had come to rest on the labour of under-the-table workers. Instead of tracking workers down and deporting them, argued the CLC, why not set them on the path to citizenship?