In pics: All you need to know about truckers' protest against Covid-19 curbs in Canada

In 2019, well before the current protests, demonstrators drove a convoy of hundreds of trucks from western Canada to Ottawa in opposition to the Trudeau government's new carbon tax, an environmental measure they said would hurt the oil industry. Many wore yellow vests in solidarity with a French protest movement that same year against perceived economic injustice.

This year's freedom convoy began in January with the first vehicles also setting out from the western part of the country and protesters from elsewhere joining in.  (Image credit: Reuters)

The demonstrators in Ottawa, Ontario and elsewhere are primarily demanding an end to all COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions including mask requirements though most of those were put in place by provincial governments. Protesters have called, too, for Trudeau's resignation.  (Image credit: Reuters)

Trudeau has stood firm against lifting vaccine mandates, calling the protesters a fringe who believe in conspiracy theories and wear tinfoil hats. That has only incensed them further. 

Pandemic restrictions have been far stricter in Canada than in the United States, but Canadians have largely supported them.  (Image credit: Reuters)

Spanning the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, the suspension bridge accounts for a whopping 25% of all trade between the two countries, with $328 million (417 million Canadian dollars) in goods crossing each day.

The bridge is critical to the food sector in both countries as well as the auto industry; with crossings all but shut down, shortages have forced plants on both sides of the border to go offline or operate at reduced capacity.  (Image credit: Reuters)

Thousands of protesters initially descended on the city two weeks ago. Their numbers have declined, but more than 400 trucks remain parked in front of the Parliament Buildings along with a makeshift kitchen.  (Image credit: Reuters)