Canada’s Victoria Island, tucked snugly between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, has some impressive bragging rights. It’s the eighth-largest island in the world (bigger than Great Britain, thank you very much) and the second-largest island in Canada. But what really makes this frosty patch of land special isn’t its size—it’s the geographical riddle hiding within it.

Get ready for a brain teaser: Victoria Island is home to the world’s largest third-order island. That’s an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island. Still following? Congratulations—you’re officially qualified to teach geography or direct a Christopher Nolan film.

A Google Maps Treasure Hunt

About 75 miles inland from Victoria Island’s southern coast lies a cluster of long, finger-like lakes, stretching across the rugged landscape. But nestled within one of these lakes is where the real geographical magic happens. Specifically, at coordinates 69.793° N, 108.241° W, you’ll find a narrow, nameless slip of land measuring about a fifth of a mile long. Despite its modest size—roughly four acres—this unassuming patch of earth holds a world record as the largest island-in-a-lake-on-an-island-in-a-lake-on-an-island. It’s nature’s ultimate nesting doll, and it’s been hiding right under the noses of cartographers for centuries.

In 2007, this cartographical curiosity came to light, not through an expedition, but from a good old-fashioned Google Maps deep dive (and no, we don’t think it’s one of those fake places designed to catch copyright thieves). The discoverer was Josh Calder, who was presumably having the best time ever scrolling through satellite images when he stumbled upon the island-in-a-lake-in-an-island inception. He published his findings that same year, cementing his place in geographical trivia history.

Despite his claim to the discovery, confusion soon swirled, with many giving credit to Jeopardy! champion and trivia legend Ken Jennings. While Jennings has undoubtedly conquered the realms of trivia and wit, he did not discover this island. We understand the mix-up. Jennings does have a talent for knowing obscure facts, and this island is as obscure as it gets.

Inception Islands: Canada vs. the Philippines

Believe it or not, third-order islands aren’t entirely unique. The Taal Volcano in the Philippines also boasts a third-order island within its crater lake. However, Victoria Island’s third-order island, which sprawls across about four acres, dwarfs the Philippine contender. So, unless some new, even more layered island emerges, Canada gets to hold the title for the largest third-order island on the planet.

The Island Nobody’s Visited (Probably)

There’s a pretty good chance that nobody has ever set foot on this island-in-a-lake-in-an-island-in-a-lake-in-an-island.

The nearest human settlement is Cambridge Bay, a cozy little town about 90 miles away. There are no roads, no trails, and definitely no gift shop selling “My Parents Visited The World’s Largest Third-Order Island, and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt” t-shirts. If you want to visit, you’ll need a helicopter, some deep pockets, and a healthy sense of adventure.

But just imagine the bragging rights! You could be the very first human to step on a piece of land that even Google had to zoom in 10 times to find.

The Plot Thickens: Is There Another One?

Before you book your helicopter, though, there’s a twist. Victoria Island’s third-order island may not be the only one of its kind—or even the largest. You see, nearly half of Canada is peppered with lakes upon lakes, some barely distinguishable from a distance. With all those watery freckles dotting the map, it’s entirely possible that there’s another third-order island out there, hiding somewhere in the labyrinthine wilderness. Maybe one even bigger.

So, for those of you armed with an internet connection and some spare time, Google Earth is calling. Who knows? You might just find Canada’s next great geographical oddity—no helicopter required.

Final Thought: An Island Fit for Trivia Royalty

Victoria Island is more than just a cold, remote expanse of Canadian wilderness. It’s a testament to the delightful weirdness of our planet and proof that you don’t always need a machete and a compass to make a discovery. Sometimes, a good Wi-Fi connection and a sharp eye are enough to rewrite the map.

And if you do decide to be the first person to visit, just remember: leave footprints, take photos—and please, let Josh Calder, not Ken Jennings, get the credit.

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