There are a number of different interpretations for "easternmost" and "westernmost"; see
below for full treatment.
This is a list of the extreme points of the United States, the points that are farther north, south, east, or west than any other location in the country. Also included are extreme points in elevation, extreme distances, and other points of peculiar geographic interest.
Extreme points in the 50 states: Point Barrow, Ka Lae, Sail Rock, Peaked Island
Extreme points in the contiguous 48 states: Northwest Angle, Ballast Key, Sail Rock, Bodelteh Islands
Extreme points of the U.S. on the North American continent: Point Barrow, Cape Sable, West Quoddy Head, Cape Prince of Wales
Northernmost points [edit]
- Point Barrow, Alaska 71°23′20″N 156°28′45″W / 71.38889°N 156.47917°W / 71.38889; -156.47917 (Point Barrow) — northernmost point in all U.S. territory
- Barrow, Alaska 71°17′44″N 156°45′59″W / 71.29556°N 156.76639°W / 71.29556; -156.76639 (Barrow) — northernmost incorporated place in all U.S. territory, population about 4,000
- Fairbanks, Alaska 64°50′22.94″N 147°43′14.63″W / 64.8397056°N 147.7207306°W / 64.8397056; -147.7207306 (Fairbanks City Hall) — northernmost city of more than 20,000 residents, and northernmost city with public road access
- Anchorage, Alaska 61°13′4.17″N 149°53′33.17″W / 61.2178250°N 149.8925472°W / 61.2178250; -149.8925472 (Anchorage City Hall) — northernmost city of more than 250,000 residents
- Northwest Angle Inlet in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota 49°23′04.1″N 95°9′12.2″W / 49.384472°N 95.153389°W / 49.384472; -95.153389 (Northwest Angle) — northernmost point in the 48 contiguous states (because of incomplete information at the time of the Treaty of Paris (1783) settling the American Revolutionary War)
- Sumas, Washington 49°00′08.6″N 122°15′40″W / 49.002389°N 122.26111°W / 49.002389; -122.26111 (Sumas, WA) — northernmost incorporated place in the 48 contiguous states (because of 19th century survey inaccuracy placing the international border slightly north of the 49th parallel here.[1])
- Bellingham, Washington 48°45′19.12″N 122°28′43.54″W / 48.7553111°N 122.4787611°W / 48.7553111; -122.4787611 (Bellingham City Hall) — northernmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
- Seattle, Washington 47°36′13.81″N 122°19′48.56″W / 47.6038361°N 122.3301556°W / 47.6038361; -122.3301556 (Seattle City Hall) — northernmost city of more than 500,000 residents in the United States
- Alaska has the northernmost geographic center of all the states. North Dakota has the northernmost geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.
- Note that maps of the 48 states that are displayed in a non-cylindrical projection (i.e. curved lines of latitude) can give the impression that the state of Maine extends further north than it actually does. The northernmost point in Maine is at approximately 47.46 degrees North latitude. This line of latitude passes through the southern suburbs of Seattle. From there, it is approximately 100 miles (160 km) north to the 49th parallel. A wide swath of land within the 48 states (encompassing portions of Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and Minnesota) is therefore further north than any place in Maine. Included in this area are such places as Spokane, Washington; Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Great Falls, Montana; Minot and Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Bemidji, Minnesota. Even Isle Royale and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (such as the Keweenaw Peninsula) are further north than anywhere in Maine. By comparison, the southernmost land in Canada, Middle Island, Ontario,at a latitude of North 41°40'53", lies entirely south of 12 of the contiguous states - Washington, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Michigan, Maine, Wisconsin, Oregon, South Dakota, New Hampshire and Vermont - and south of the northernmost border of 14 more of the contiguous states.
Southernmost points [edit]
- Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica (90°0′0″S 0°0′0″E / 90.00000°S 0.00000°E / -90.00000; 0.00000 (South Pole)) — southernmost point under United States jurisdiction
- Rose Atoll, American Samoa (14°34′11″S 168°9′10″W / 14.56972°S 168.15278°W / -14.56972; -168.15278 (Rose Atoll)) — southernmost point in all U.S. controlled territory
- Palmyra Atoll - southernmost point in all US incorporated territory
- Ka Lae, Hawaii (18°54′39″N 155°40′52″W / 18.91083°N 155.68111°W / 18.91083; -155.68111 (Ka Lae)) — southernmost point in the 50 states
- Nā'ālehu, Hawaii (19°3′57″N 155°35′15″W / 19.06583°N 155.58750°W / 19.06583; -155.58750 (Nā'ālehu, HI)) — southernmost town in the 50 states
- Honolulu, Hawaii — southernmost incorporated place in the 50 states (Hawaii's only incorporated place)
- Western Dry Rocks, Florida (24°26.8′N 81°55.6′W / 24.4467°N 81.9267°W / 24.4467; -81.9267 (Western Dry Rocks)) — In the Florida Keys - southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide
- Ballast Key, Florida (24°31′15″N 81°57′49″W / 24.52083°N 81.96361°W / 24.52083; -81.96361 (Ballast Key)) — southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water
- Key West, Florida (24°32′41″N 81°48′37″W / 24.544701°N 81.810333°W / 24.544701; -81.810333 (Key West, FL)) — southernmost incorporated place in the contiguous 48 states
- Cape Sable, Florida (25°7′6″N 81°5′11″W / 25.11833°N 81.08639°W / 25.11833; -81.08639 (Cape Sable)) — southernmost point on the U.S. mainland
- Miami, Florida — the southernmost major metropolitan city in the 48 contiguous states
- Hawaii has the southernmost geographic center of all the states. Florida has the southernmost geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.
- Note that maps of the 48 states that are displayed in an equal-area projection can give the impression that the state of Texas extends farther south than it actually does. The southernmost point in Texas (just southeast of Brownsville) is at approximately 25.84 degrees North latitude. This line of latitude passes through Hialeah, Florida, which is slightly north of Miami.
Easternmost points [edit]
- Point Udall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands 17°45′19″N 64°33′54″W / 17.75528°N 64.56500°W / 17.75528; -64.56500 (Point Udall, St. Croix) — easternmost point in all U.S. territory, by direction of travel
- Sail Rock 44°48′45.2″N 66°56′49.3″W / 44.812556°N 66.947028°W / 44.812556; -66.947028 (Sail Rock), just offshore of West Quoddy Head, Maine — easternmost point in the 50 states, by direction of travel
- West Quoddy Head, Maine 44°48′55.4″N 66°56′59.2″W / 44.815389°N 66.949778°W / 44.815389; -66.949778 (West Quoddy Head) — easternmost point on the U.S. mainland
- Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island, Alaska 51°57′42″N 179°46′23″E / 51.96167°N 179.77306°E / 51.96167; 179.77306 (Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island) — easternmost point in all U.S. territory, by longitude
- Peacock Point, Wake Island 19°16′13.2″N 166°39′26.3″E / 19.270333°N 166.657306°E / 19.270333; 166.657306 (Peacock Point, Wake Island) — first sunrise (at equinox) in all U.S. territory
- Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands 17°44′54″N 64°43′00″W / 17.7482°N 64.7168°W / 17.7482; -64.7168 (Christainsted) — easternmost incorporated place in all US territory, by direction of travel
- Farallon de Medinilla Village, Northern Mariana Islands 16°01′38″N 146°03′52″E / 16.0271°N 146.0645°E / 16.0271; 146.0645 (Farallon de Medinilla) — easternmost incorporated place in all US territory, by longitude
- Lubec, Maine 44°49′03″N 66°57′00″W / 44.817419°N 66.949895°W / 44.817419; -66.949895 (Lubec, ME) — easternmost incorporated place in the 50 states
- Eastport, Maine — easternmost incorporated city in the 50 states[2]
- Calais, Maine — easternmost city of more than 2500 residents in the 50 states
- Houlton, Maine — easternmost town of more than 5000 residents in the 50 states
- Bangor, Maine — easternmost city of more than 20,000 residents in the 50 states
- Portland, Maine — easternmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 50 states
- Boston, Massachusetts — easternmost major U.S. city (more than 500,000 residents)
- Maine has the easternmost geographic center out of the 50 states.
- Note that maps of the 48 states that are displayed in an equal-area projection can give the impression that the state of Florida extends further east than it actually does. The easternmost point in Florida (Palm Beach Shores) is at approximately 80.03 degrees West longitude. This line of longitude passes through (or near) such places as Charleston, South Carolina; High Point, North Carolina; Salem, Virginia; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania – further west than all of New York, New Jersey, and all of the New England states.
Westernmost points [edit]
- Point Udall, Guam (13°26′51″N 144°37′5.5″E / 13.44750°N 144.618194°E / 13.44750; 144.618194 (Point Udall, Guam)) — westernmost point in all U.S. territory, by direction of travel
- Peaked Island, offshore from Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, Alaska 52°55′14″N 172°26′16″E / 52.92056°N 172.43778°E / 52.92056; 172.43778 (Peaked Island) — westernmost point in the 50 states, by direction of travel, and last sunset (at equinox) in all U.S. territory
- Amatignak Island, Alaska 51°16′7″N 179°8′55″W / 51.26861°N 179.14861°W / 51.26861; -179.14861 (Amatignak Island) — westernmost point in all of US territory, by longitude
- Adak, Alaska 51°49′21″N 176°42′53″W / 51.8224°N 176.7147°W / 51.8224; -176.7147 (Adak, AK) — westernmost incorporated town in the 50 states
- Unalaska, Alaska 53°53′20″N 166°31′38″W / 53.888984°N 166.527239°W / 53.888984; -166.527239 (Unalaska, AK) - westernmost city of more than 2500 residents in the 50 states
- Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska 65°38′32″N 168°7′8″W / 65.64222°N 168.11889°W / 65.64222; -168.11889 (Cape Prince of Wales) — westernmost point on the North American continent
- Anchor Point, Alaska (59°46′N 151°52′W / 59.767°N 151.867°W / 59.767; -151.867 (Anchor Point, AK)) — Westernmost point on the continuous road system of North America[3]
- Umatilla Reef, offshore from Cape Alava, Washington (48°11.1′N 124°47.1′W / 48.1850°N 124.7850°W / 48.1850; -124.7850 (Umatilla Reef)) — westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide
- Bodelteh Islands, offshore from Cape Alava, Washington 48°10′42.7″N 124°46′18.1″W / 48.178528°N 124.771694°W / 48.178528; -124.771694 (Bodelteh Islands) — westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water
- Cape Alava, Washington (48°9′51″N 124°43′59″W / 48.16417°N 124.73306°W / 48.16417; -124.73306 (Cape Alava)) — westernmost point on the U.S. mainland (contiguous)
- Ozette, Washington 48°09′17″N 124°40′02″W / 48.154722°N 124.667222°W / 48.154722; -124.667222 (Ozette, WA) — westernmost town in the 48 contiguous states
- Port Orford, Oregon 42°45′15″N 124°30′45″W / 42.754065°N 124.512605°W / 42.754065; -124.512605 (Port Orford, OR) — westernmost incorporated place in the 48 contiguous states
- Brookings, Oregon — westernmost city of more than 5000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
- Eureka, California — westernmost city of more than 25,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
- Corvallis, Oregon — westernmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
- Eugene, Oregon — westernmost city of more than 100,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
- Portland, Oregon — westernmost city of more than 500,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
- Hawaii has the westernmost geographic center of all the states. Oregon has the westernmost geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.
- Note that maps of the 48 states that are displayed in an equal-area projection can give the impression that the state of California extends farther west than it actually does. The westernmost point in California (Cape Mendocino) is approximately seven miles east of the westernmost point in Oregon (Cape Blanco), and approximately 14 miles (23 km) east of the westernmost point in Washington (Cape Alava).
Interpretation of easternmost and westernmost [edit]
There are three methods for reckoning the eastern and western extremes of the United States.
One method is to use the Prime Meridian as the dividing line between east and west. This meridian running through Greenwich, London, is defined as zero degrees longitude and could be called the least eastern and least western place in the world. The 180th meridian, on the opposite side of the globe, is therefore the easternmost and westernmost place in the world.
Another method is to use the International Date Line as the easternmost–westernmost extreme. On the equinox, the easternmost place would be where the day first begins, and the westernmost is where the day last ends.
Still another method is to first determine the geographic center of the country and from there measure the shortest distance to every other point. All U.S. territory is spread across less than 180° of longitude, so from any spot in the U.S. it is more direct to reach Point Udall, U.S. Virgin Islands, by traveling east than by traveling west. Likewise, there is not a single point in U.S. territory from which heading east is a shorter route to Point Udall, Guam, than heading west would be, even accounting for circumpolar routes. The two Udalls for whom the two Points are named were brothers, Mo Udall in Guam and Stewart Udall in the Virgin Islands.[4]
Highest points [edit]
- Mount McKinley (Denali),[5][6] Alaska, United States 63°4′9″N 151°0′23″W / 63.06917°N 151.00639°W / 63.06917; -151.00639 (Mount McKinley) — highest summit of North America at 20,320 feet (6,190 m)
- Mount Whitney,[7][8][9][10] California 36°34′43″N 118°17′31″W / 36.57861°N 118.29194°W / 36.57861; -118.29194 (Mount Whitney) — highest point in the 48 contiguous states at 14,505 feet (4,421 m)
- Grays Peak,[11][12][13][14] Colorado, United States 39°38′2″N 105°49′3″W / 39.63389°N 105.81750°W / 39.63389; -105.81750 (Grays Peak) — highest point on the Continental Divide of North America at 14,278 feet (4,352 m)
- Mauna Kea,[15][16] Hawaiʻi 19°49′14″N 155°28′5″W / 19.82056°N 155.46806°W / 19.82056; -155.46806 (Mauna Kea) — highest island summit in all U.S. territory and the entire Pacific Ocean at 13,796 feet (4,205 m)
- Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico 36°35′52″N 105°26′42″W / 36.59778°N 105.44500°W / 36.59778; -105.44500 (Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico) — highest village limits in all U.S. territory at 12,581 feet (3,835 m) (No residents of Taos Ski Valley live above 10,350 feet.)[17]
- Winter Park, Colorado 39°53′34″N 105°45′43″W / 39.89278°N 105.76194°W / 39.89278; -105.76194 (Winter Park, CO) — highest city limits in all U.S. territory at 12,060 feet (3,680 m) (No residents of Winter Park live above 10,000 feet.)
- San Juan County, Colorado 37°49′N 107°40′W / 37.817°N 107.667°W / 37.817; -107.667 (San Juan County, Colorado) — highest U.S. county with a mean elevation of 11,240 feet (3,430 m)
- Alma, Colorado 39°17′2″N 106°3′46″W / 39.28389°N 106.06278°W / 39.28389; -106.06278 (Alma, Colorado) — highest town in all U.S. territory at 10,355 feet (3,156 m)
- Leadville, Colorado 39°14′50″N 106°17′30″W / 39.24722°N 106.29167°W / 39.24722; -106.29167 (Leadville, Colorado) — highest city in all U.S. territory at 10,152 feet (3,094 m)
- Lake County Airport, Colorado 39°13′13″N 106°19′00″W / 39.22028°N 106.31667°W / 39.22028; -106.31667 (Lake County Airport) — highest airfield in all U.S. territory and North America at 9,927 feet (3,026 m)
- New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe 35°40′56″N 105°56′23″W / 35.68222°N 105.93972°W / 35.68222; -105.93972 (New Mexico State Capitol) — highest state capitol in the United States at 7,005 feet (2,135 m)
- State of Colorado 39°00′N 105°30′W / 39.000°N 105.500°W / 39.000; -105.500 (State of Colorado) — highest U.S. state with an average elevation of 6,800 feet (2,100 m)
- Mount Mitchell, North Carolina 35°45′53″N 82°15′54″W / 35.76472°N 82.26500°W / 35.76472; -82.26500 (Mount Mitchell) — highest point in eastern United States at 6,684 feet (2,037 m)
- Mount Washington, New Hampshire 44°16′13″N 71°18′12″W / 44.27028°N 71.30333°W / 44.27028; -71.30333 (Mount Washington) — highest point in northeastern United States at 6,288 feet (1,917 m)
- Arikaree River, Yuma County, Colorado at Kansas state line 39°58′42″N 102°3′6″W / 39.97833°N 102.05167°W / 39.97833; -102.05167 (Arikaree River) — highest U.S. state low point at 3,317 feet (1,011 m)
Lowest points [edit]
- Badwater Basin, Death Valley, California 36°14′23″N 116°50′5″W / 36.23972°N 116.83472°W / 36.23972; -116.83472 (Badwater Basin) — lowest surface point in all U.S. territory and North America at −282 feet (−86 m)
- Salton Sea, California 33°19′59″N 115°50′3″W / 33.33306°N 115.83417°W / 33.33306; -115.83417 (Salton Sea) — lowest lake in all U.S. territory and North America at −226 feet (−69 m)
- Furnace Creek Airport, California 36°27′50″N 116°52′53″W / 36.46389°N 116.88139°W / 36.46389; -116.88139 (Furnace Creek Airport) — lowest airfield in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere at −210 feet (−64 m)
- Furnace Creek, California[18] 36°27′29″N 116°52′15″W / 36.45806°N 116.87083°W / 36.45806; -116.87083 (Furnace Creek, California) — lowest settlement in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere at −190 feet (−58 m)
- Calipatria, California 33°07′32″N 115°30′51″W / 33.12556°N 115.51417°W / 33.12556; -115.51417 (Calipatria, California) — lowest city in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere at −184 feet (−56 m)
- Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Lousiana 30°02′40″N 89°56′47″W / 30.04444°N 89.94639°W / 30.04444; -89.94639 (Ninth Ward of New Orleans, LA) — lowest surface point in eastern United States at −7 feet (−2.1 m)
- New Orleans, Lousiana 29°58′N 90°03′W / 29.967°N 90.050°W / 29.967; -90.050 (New Orleans, Louisiana) — lowest city over 250,000 population in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere with an average elevation of −1.5 feet (−0.46 m)
- State of Delaware 39°0′17″N 75°32′46″W / 39.00472°N 75.54611°W / 39.00472; -75.54611 (State of Delaware) — lowest U.S. state with an average elevation of 60 feet (18 m)
- Britton Hill, Florida 30°59′18″N 86°16′55″W / 30.98833°N 86.28194°W / 30.98833; -86.28194 (Britton Hill, FL) — lowest U.S. state high point at 345 feet (105 m)
- Lake Superior bottom, Michigan 46°54′31″N 86°35′52″W / 46.90861°N 86.59778°W / 46.90861; -86.59778 (Deepest Point in Lake Superior) — lowest fresh water point in all U.S. territory at −732 feet (−223 m)[19]
- Puget Sound bottom, Washington 47°44.9′N 122°25.7′W / 47.7483°N 122.4283°W / 47.7483; -122.4283 (Deepest Point in Puget Sound) — lowest sea water point in the interior of the United States at −956 feet (−291 m)[20]
Other points [edit]
- International Falls, Minnesota Geographic center near the 49th parallel. Distance from ocean about 1,600 miles. 48°35′N 93°24′W / 48.583°N 93.400°W / 48.583; -93.400 (US geo center on 49th parallel)
- Most remote point in the 50 states: Ipnavik River, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, 68°45′N 156°41′W / 68.750°N 156.683°W / 68.750; -156.683 (most remote point); 120 miles (190 km) from nearest habitation
- Geographic center of the 50 states: approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, 44°58′N 103°46′W / 44.967°N 103.767°W / 44.967; -103.767 (geographic center of 50 states)
- Geographic center of the 48 contiguous states: approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Lebanon, Kansas, 39°50′N 98°35′W / 39.833°N 98.583°W / 39.833; -98.583 (geographic center of 48 contiguous states)
- Closest to the equator: Baker Island is located at 0°11′41″N 176°28′46″W / 0.19472°N 176.47944°W / 0.19472; -176.47944 (Baker Island).[21][22][23]
- The geographic center of the North American continent is located at 48°10′N 100°10′W / 48.167°N 100.167°W / 48.167; -100.167 (Geographic center of the North American continent), about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Balta in Pierce County, North Dakota.
- The North American pole of inaccessibility is located at 43°22′N 101°58′W / 43.367°N 101.967°W / 43.367; -101.967 (North American pole of inaccessibility), about eleven miles southeast of the town of Kyle on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Bennett County, South Dakota, 1,025 miles (1,650 km) from the nearest coastlines.
- If Puerto Rico became the 51st state, the easternmost point of the 51 states would be Culebrita (by direction of travel), and the southernmost point in all of the states would be Caja de Muertos. Hawaii and Maine would each lose their title of southernmost/easternmost points respectively, though Maine would still have the easternmost point on the mainland.
Islands [edit]
- Island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi 19°49′15″N 155°28′5″W / 19.82083°N 155.46806°W / 19.82083; -155.46806 (Island of Hawaii) — most extensive island in all U.S. territory at 4,028 square miles (10,430 km2) and tallest island in all U.S. territory and the entire Pacific Ocean at 13,796 feet (4,205 m)
- Kodiak Island, Alaska 57°28′N 153°26′W / 57.467°N 153.433°W / 57.467; -153.433 (Kodiak Island) — most extensive Gulf of Alaska island at 3,595.09 square miles (9,311.2 km2)
- Island of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico 18°15′N 66°30′W / 18.250°N 66.500°W / 18.250; -66.500 (Island of Puerto Rico) — most extensive island of U.S. Caribbean territory at 3,515.1 square miles (9,104 km2)
- Prince of Wales Island, Alaska 55°37′55″N 132°54′27″W / 55.63194°N 132.90750°W / 55.63194; -132.90750 (Prince of Wales Island) — most extensive island of the Alexander Archipelago at 2,577 square miles (6,670 km2)
- Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska 63°24′54″N 170°23′58″W / 63.41500°N 170.39944°W / 63.41500; -170.39944 (Saint Lawrence Island) — most extensive Bering Sea island at 1,791.56 square miles (4,640.1 km2)
- Unimak Island, Alaska 54°46′6″N 164°11′12″W / 54.76833°N 164.18667°W / 54.76833; -164.18667 (Unimak Island) — most extensive Aleutian island at 1,571.41 square miles (4,069.9 km2)
- Long Island, New York 26°50′40″N 97°22′04″W / 26.84444°N 97.36778°W / 26.84444; -97.36778 (Long Island) — most extensive island of the U.S. Atlantic coast at 1,401 square miles (3,630 km2)
- Padre Island, Texas 26°50′40″N 97°22′04″W / 26.84444°N 97.36778°W / 26.84444; -97.36778 (Padre Island) — most extensive Gulf of Mexico island at 209 square miles (540 km2) and longest barrier island on Earth at 113 miles (182 km)
- Isle Royale in Lake Superior, Michigan 48°0′N 88°55′W / 48.000°N 88.917°W / 48.000; -88.917 (Isle Royale) — most extensive island in a lake in all U.S. territory at 206.73 square miles (535.4 km2)
- Whidbey Island, Washington 48°8′11″N 122°34′57″W / 48.13639°N 122.58250°W / 48.13639; -122.58250 (Whidbey Island) — most extensive island of Puget Sound at 168.67 square miles (436.9 km2)
- Santa Cruz Island, California 34°0′13″N 119°43′35″W / 34.00361°N 119.72639°W / 34.00361; -119.72639 (Santa Cruz Island) — most extensive of the Channel Islands of California at 97 square miles (250 km2)
Rivers [edit]
- Mississippi River 29°9′4″N 89°15′12″W / 29.15111°N 89.25333°W / 29.15111; -89.25333 (Mississippi River) — most extensive river basin at 1,151,000 square miles (2,980,000 km2)
- Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson Rivers 29°9′4″N 89°15′12″W / 29.15111°N 89.25333°W / 29.15111; -89.25333 (Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson Rivers) — longest river system at 3,902 miles (6,280 km)
- Missouri River 38°48′49″N 90°7′11″W / 38.81361°N 90.11972°W / 38.81361; -90.11972 (Missouri River) — longest main stem river at 2,341 miles (3,767 km)
- Mississippi River 29°9′4″N 89°15′12″W / 29.15111°N 89.25333°W / 29.15111; -89.25333 (Mississippi River) — longest Gulf of Mexico main stem river at 2,202 miles (3,544 km)
- Yukon River 62°35′55″N 164°47′40″W / 62.59861°N 164.79444°W / 62.59861; -164.79444 (Yukon River) — longest Bering Sea main stem river at 1,979 miles (3,185 km)
- Colorado River 31°48′57″N 114°48′22″W / 31.81583°N 114.80611°W / 31.81583; -114.80611 (Colorado River) — longest Gulf of California main stem river at 1,450 miles (2,330 km)
- Columbia River 46°14′39″N 124°3′29″W / 46.24417°N 124.05806°W / 46.24417; -124.05806 (Columbia River) — longest Pacific Ocean main stem river at 1,243 miles (2,000 km)
- Saint Lawrence River 49°40′N 64°30′W / 49.667°N 64.500°W / 49.667; -64.500 (Saint Lawrence River) — longest Atlantic Ocean main stem river at 600 miles (970 km)
Extremes in distance [edit]
- Greatest distance between any two points within U.S. Territory: 9,514 miles (15,311 km) from Point Udall, Guam to Point Udall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (formerly known as Orote Point and East Point, respectively).[25]
- Greatest distance between any two points within the 50 states: 5,859 miles (9,429 km) from Kure Atoll, Hawaii to Log Point, Elliott Key, Florida.[25]
- Greatest distance between any two points within the contiguous 48 states: 2,901 miles (4,669 km) miles from North Farallon Island, California to Sail Rock, east of West Quoddy Head, Maine.[25]
- Greatest distance between any two mainland points within the contiguous 48 states: 2,892 miles (4,654 km) from Point Arena, California to West Quoddy Head, Maine.[25]
- Greatest distance between two points on the same latitude: 5,823 miles (9,371 km) from Kure Atoll, Hawaii to Riviera Beach, Florida.[25]
- Note that some map projections make diagonal lines appear longer than they actually are. However, the diagonal line from Kure Atoll, Hawaii to West Quoddy Head, Maine is only 5,797 miles (9,329 km) and the diagonal from Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, Alaska to Log Point on Elliott Key, Florida is only 5,505 miles (8,859 km).
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ International Boundary Commission
- ^ http://www.quoddyloop.com/ep.shtml
- ^ The Milepost 61st edition pg. 626 ISBN 978-1892-15426-2
- ^ Donald Winslow Carson; James W. Johnson (2001). Life and times of Morris K. Udall. University of Arizona Press. p. 220. ISBN 0-8165-2049-6.
- ^ The summit of Mount McKinley is the highest point of the Alaska Range, the State of Alaska, the United States of America, and all of greater North America. Mount McKinley is the third most prominent summit on earth.
- ^ "Mount McKinley". Summits of the World. peakbagger.com. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ The summit of Mount Whitney is the highest point of the Sierra Nevada, the State of California, and the contiguous United States.
- ^ "Mount Whitney". NGS Station Datasheet. United States National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ "Mount Whitney". Summits of the World. peakbagger.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ The summit elevation of Mount Whitney includes an adjustment of +1.869 m (+6.1 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
- ^ The summit of Grays Peak is the highest point of the Front Range and the Continental Divide of North America.
- ^ "Grays Peak". NGS Station Datasheet. United States National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "Grays Peak". Summits of the World. peakbagger.com. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ The summit elevation of Grays Peak includes an adjustment of +1.881 m (+6.2 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
- ^ The summit of Mauna Kea is the highest point of the Island of Hawaiʻi, the State of Hawaiʻi, and the entire Pacific Ocean. Mauna Kea is also the tallest mountain on Earth as measured from base to summit. The shield volcano sits on the ocean floor at a depth of 5,998 meters (19,678 ft) for a total height of 10,203 meters (33,474 ft).
- ^ "Mauna Kea". Summits of the World. peakbagger.com. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
- ^ "About Taos Ski Valley". Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ Furnace Creek, in Death Valley, California, set the world record for the highest reliably reported ambient air temperature of 134 °F (57 °C) on July 10, 1913. This record has been eclipsed only once by a questionable reading of 136 °F (58 °C) recorded in 'Aziziya, Libya, on September 13, 1922.
- ^ Sounding at 46° 54' 31"N, 86° 35' 52"W on NOAA chart 14963, Grand Marais to Big Bay Point, scale 1:120,000, 2006. Chart datum (as shown on the chart) is 601.1 feet above mean sea level at Rimouski, Quebec
- ^ Two identical soundings at 47° 45.2'N, 122° 26.0'W and 47° 44.6'N, 122° 25.4'W on NOAA chart 18446, Puget Sound: Apple Cove Point to Keyport, scale 1:25,000, 2005. Chart datum (as shown on the chart) is lower low water.
- ^ "Baker Island". Geographic Names Information System, U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ "State University Encyclopedia: Equator". State University Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ "CIA World Factbook: Jarvis Island". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
- ^ 2009 Crater Lake National Park map
- ^ a b c d e http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Extreme
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