One small town in Canada officially uses two exclamation marks in its name

The name is generally linked to the geography around Lake Temiscouata, which created a major obstacle for travellers moving through the region. Historical accounts describe a grueling 80-kilometre overland trail used to bypass the unnavigable regional terrain, which served as a major bottleneck for.

While the ancient French word ha-ha defined this physical obstacle, the two exclamation marks were added much later as a graphic interpretation of the surprise implied by the landscape's sudden interruption. The area was settled in the 19th century, and the first homes appeared.

What Happened

The parish was canonically established in 1873, which was followed by civil incorporation in 1874. These distinct exclamation marks are fully integrated into the municipality's legal registry.

• The municipality sits in the Tmiscouata regional county municipality in Quebec, and its official municipal page lists a population of about 1,265 and an area of 114.45 square kilometres.

• In 2017, Guinness recognised Saint-Louis-du-Ha!

• Other versions have connected it to early settlers or other religious figures.

Key Details

The municipality's regional authority gives one explanation that links the name to Louis-Nicolas Bernier, who was a priest who served in the region.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge