Extreme points of the United States

{{kml}} 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. :''There are a number of different interpretations for "easternmost" and "westernmost"; see [[#Interpretation of easternmost and westernmost|below]] for full treatment.'' [[Image:ExtremeUS1.jpg|thumb|250px|Extreme points in the 50 states: Point Barrow, Ka Lae, Sail Rock, Peaked Island]] [[Image:USA-Extreme-Points.svg|thumb|250px|Extreme points in the contiguous 48 states: Northwest Angle, Ballast Key, Sail Rock, Bodelteh Islands]] [[Image:ExtremeUS3.jpg|thumb|250px|Extreme points of the U.S. on the North American continent: Point Barrow, Cape Sable, West Quoddy Head, Cape Prince of Wales]] [[Image:ExtremeUS4.jpg|thumb|250px|Extreme points in all of U.S. territory: Point Barrow, Rose Atoll, Wake Island, Peaked Island (red); Point Udall, Udall Point (green). The International Date Line is shown in yellow.]] ==Northernmost== *[[Point Barrow, Alaska|Point Barrow]], [[Alaska]] {{coord|71|23|20|N|156|28|45|W|region:US-AK_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Point Barrow}} — northernmost point in all [[Territories of the United States|U.S. territory]] *[[Barrow, Alaska|Barrow]], [[Alaska]] {{coord|71.33953|N|156.63939|W|region:US-AK_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Barrow}} — northernmost incorporated place in all of U.S. territory, population about 4,000 *[[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]], [[Alaska]] {{coord|64|50|22.94|N|147|43|14.63|W|region:US-AK_type:landmark|name=Fairbanks City Hall}} — northernmost city of more than 20,000 residents, and northernmost city with public road access *[[Anchorage, Alaska]] {{coord|61|13|4.17|N|149|53|33.17|W|region:US-AK_type:landmark|name=Anchorage City Hall}} — northernmost city of more than 250,000 residents *[[Northwest Angle]]/[[Angle Township, Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota|Angle Township]] in [[Lake of the Woods]], [[Minnesota]] {{coord|49.384358|N|95.153314|W|region:US-MN|name=Northwest Angle}} — northernmost point in the 48 contiguous states *[[Sumas, Washington]] {{coord|49.00249|N|122.25162|W|region:US_type:landmark|name=Sumas, WA}} — northernmost incorporated place in the 48 contiguous states (Because of a 19th century surveying inaccuracy, the international border lies slightly north of the [[49th parallel north|49th parallel]] here.) *[[Bellingham, Washington]] {{coord|48|45|19.12|N|122|28|43.54|W|region:US_type:landmark|name=Bellingham City Hall}} — northernmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states *[[Seattle]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] {{coord|47|36|13.81|N|122|19|48.56|W|region:US_type:landmark|name=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 [[Map projection|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 {{convert|100|mi|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, North Dakota|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.'' ==Southernmost== *[[Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station]], [[Antarctica]] ({{coord|90|0|0|S|0|0|0|E|name=South Pole}}) — southernmost point under United States jurisdiction *[[Rose Atoll]], [[American Samoa]] ({{coord|14|34|11|S|168|9|10|W|region:US-AS_type:landmark|name=Rose Atoll}}) — southernmost point in all U.S. controlled territory *[[Palmyra Atoll]] - southernmost point in all US incorporated territory *[[Ka Lae]], [[Hawaii]] ({{coord|18|54|39|N|155|40|52|W|region:US-HI_type:landmark|name=Ka Lae}}) — southernmost point in the 50 states *[[Naalehu, Hawaii|Nā'ālehu, Hawaii]] ({{coord|19|3|57|N|155|35|15|W|region:US-FL_type:city|name=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]] ({{coord|24|26.8|N|81|55.6|W|region:US-FL_type:landmark|name=Western Dry Rocks}}) — In the [[Florida Keys]] - southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide *[[Ballast Key]], [[Florida]] ({{coord|24|31|15|N|81|57|49|W|region:US-FL_type:landmark|name=Ballast Key}}) — southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water *[[Key West, Florida]] ({{coord|24.544701|N|81.810333|W|region:US-FL_type:landmark|name=Key West, FL}}) — southernmost incorporated place in the contiguous 48 states *[[Cape Sable]], Florida ({{coord|25|7|6|N|81|5|11|W|region:US-FL_type:landmark|name=Cape Sable}}) — southernmost point on the U.S. mainland *[[Miami|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== *[[Point Udall (U.S. Virgin Islands)|Point Udall]], [[St. Croix]], [[United States Virgin Islands|U.S. Virgin Islands]] {{coord|17|45|19|N|64|33|54|W|name=Point Udall, St. Croix}} — easternmost point in all U.S. territory, by direction of travel *Sail Rock {{coord|44|48|45.2|N|66|56|49.3|W|name=Sail Rock}}, just offshore of [[West Quoddy Head]], [[Maine]] — easternmost point in the 50 states, by direction of travel *[[West Quoddy Head]], [[Maine]] {{coord|44|48|55.4|N|66|56|59.2|W|name=West Quoddy Head}} — easternmost point on the U.S. mainland *Pochnoi Point, [[Semisopochnoi Island]], [[Alaska]] {{coord|51|57|42|N|179|46|23|E|name=Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island}} — easternmost point in all of U.S. territory, by longitude *Peacock Point, [[Wake Island]] {{coord|19|16|13.2|N|166|39|26.3|E|name=Peacock Point, Wake Island}} — first sunrise (at [[equinox]]) in all of U.S. territory *[[Lubec, Maine]] {{coord|44.817419|N|66.949895|W|name=Lubec, ME}} — easternmost incorporated place in the 50 states *[[Eastport, Maine]] — easternmost incorporated city *[[Calais, Maine]] — easternmost city of more than 2500 residents *[[Houlton, Maine]] — easternmost town of more than 5000 residents *[[Bangor, Maine]] — easternmost city of more than 20,000 residents *[[Portland, Maine]] — easternmost city of more than 50,000 residents *[[Boston|Boston, Massachusetts]] — easternmost major U.S. city (more than 500,000 residents) *[[Maine]] has the easternmost geographic center out of the fifty 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== *[[Point Udall (Guam)|Point Udall]], [[Guam]] ({{coord|13|26|51|N|144|37|5.5|E|region:US-GU_type:landmark|name=Point Udall, Guam}}) — westernmost point in all of U.S. territory, by direction of travel *Peaked Island, offshore from [[Cape Wrangell]], [[Attu Island]], [[Alaska]] {{coord|52|55|14|N|172|26|16|E|name=Peaked Island}} — westernmost point in the 50 states, by direction of travel, and last sunset (at [[equinox]]) in all of U.S. territory *[[Amatignak Island]], [[Alaska]] {{coord|51|16|7|N|179|8|55|W|name=Amatignak Island}} — westernmost point in all of US territory, by longitude *[[Adak, Alaska]] {{coord|51.8224|N|176.7147|W|name=Adak, AK}} — westernmost incorporated town in the 50 states *[[Unalaska, Alaska]] (176.636° West) - westernmost city of more than 2500 residents in the 50 states *[[Cape Prince of Wales]], Alaska {{coord|65|38|32|N|168|7|8|W|name=Cape Prince of Wales}} — westernmost point on the [[North America|North American continent]] *[[Anchor Point, Alaska]] ({{coord|59|46|N|151|52|W|region:US-AK_type:landmark|name=Anchor Point, AK}}) — Westernmost point on the continuous road system of North America *Umatilla Reef, offshore from [[Cape Alava]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] ({{coord|48|11.1|N|124|47.1|W|region:US-WA_type:landmark|name=Umatilla Reef}}) — westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide *Bodelteh Islands, offshore from [[Cape Alava]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] {{coord|48|10|42.7|N|124|46|18.1|W|name=Bodelteh Islands}} — westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water *[[Cape Alava]], Washington ({{coord|48|9|51|N|124|43|59|W|region:US-WA_type:landmark|name=Cape Alava}}) — westernmost point on the U.S. mainland (contiguous) *[[Ozette, Washington]] — westernmost town in the 48 contiguous states *[[Port Orford, Oregon]] {{coord|42.754065|N|124.512605|W|name=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 {{convert|14|mi|km}} east of the westernmost point in Washington (Cape Alava).'' ==Extremes in elevation== *[[Mount McKinley]], [[Alaska]] {{coord|63|4|10|N|151|0|26|W|type:mountain_region:US-AK|name= Mt. McKinley}} (20,320 feet; 6,194 meters) — highest point in all of U.S. territory *[[Mount Whitney]], [[California]] {{coord|36|34|42.89|N|118|17|31.18|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA|name=Mount Whitney}} (14,505 feet; 4,421 meters) — highest point in the 48 contiguous states *[[Mount Evans]], [[Colorado]] {{coord|39|35|16|N|105|38|34|W|type:mountain_region:US-CO|name= Mt. Evans}} (14,120 feet, 4,304 meters) — highest road in the 48 contiguous states *[[Winter Park, Colorado]] {{coord|39|53|34|N|105|45|43|W|region:US-CO_type:landmark|name=Winter Park, CO}} (12,060 feet; 3,676 meters) — highest city limits in all of U.S. territory (However, note that there are no permanent residents in Winter Park above the level of 10,000 ft.) *[[Alma, Colorado]] {{coord|39|17|2|N|106|3|46|W|region:US-CO_type:landmark|name=Alma, CO}} (10,355 feet; 3,156 meters) — highest town with permanent residents above 10,000 ft. in all of U.S. territory *[[Leadville, Colorado]] {{coord|39|14|50|N|106|17|30|W|region:US-CO_type:landmark|name=Leadville, CO}} (10,152 feet; 3,094 meters) — highest city, golf course (Mt Massive GC) and airport runway in all of U.S. territory *[[Calipatria, California]] {{coord|33|07|32|N|115|30|51|W|region:US-CA_type:landmark|name=Calipatria, CA}} (−184 feet; −56 meters) — lowest city in all of U.S. territory *[[Badwater Basin]] ([[Death Valley]]), [[California]] {{coord|36|14|23|N|116|50|5|W|region:US-CA|name=Badwater Basin, CA}} (−282 feet; −86 meters) — lowest surface point in all of U.S. territory *[[Crater Lake]] bottom, [[Oregon]] {{coord|42|57|N|122|5|W|region:US-OR_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Deepest Point in Crater Lake}} (−1,943 feet; −593 meters below surface / 4,230 feet; 1,289 meters above [[sea level]]) — deepest point below water surface in the United States *[[Lake Superior]] bottom, [[Michigan]] {{coord|46|54|31|N|86|35|52|W|region:US-MI_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Deepest Point in Lake Superior}} (−1,333 feet; −406 meters below surface / −732 feet; −223 meters below [[sea level]]) — deepest point below water surface in the [[Great Lakes]] *[[Puget Sound]] bottom, [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] {{coord|47|44.9|N|122|25.7|W|region:US-WA_type:landmark|display=inline|name=Deepest Point in Puget Sound}} (−949 feet; −289 meters below mean lower low water/ approximately −956 feet; −291 meters below mean sea level) — deepest point below sea level in the interior United States ==Extremes in distance== *Greatest distance between any two points within U.S. Territory: 9,514 miles from [[Point Udall (Guam)|Point Udall]], [[Guam]] to [[Point Udall (U.S. Virgin Islands)|Point Udall]], [[St. Croix]], [[U.S. Virgin Islands]] (formerly known as [[Orote Point]] and East Point, respectively). *Greatest distance between any two points within the 50 states: 5,859 miles from [[Kure Atoll]], [[Hawaii]] to [[Log Point]], [[Elliott Key]], [[Florida]]. *Greatest distance between any two points within the contiguous 48 states: 2,892 miles from [[Point Arena]], [[California]] to [[West Quoddy Head]], [[Maine]]. *Greatest distance between two points on the same latitude: 5,823 miles from [[Kure Atoll]], [[Hawaii]] to [[Riviera Beach, Florida|Riviera Beach]], [[Florida]]. :''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 and the diagonal from [[Cape Wrangell]], [[Attu Island]], [[Alaska]] to [[Log Point]] on [[Elliott Key]], [[Florida]] is only 5,505 miles.'' ==Other== *Most remote point in the 50 states: Ipnavik River, [[National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska]], {{coord|68|45|N|156|41|W|name=most remote point}}; 120 miles (195 km) from nearest habitation *[[Geographic centers of the United States|Geographic center]] of the 50 states: approximately 20 miles (34 km) north of [[Belle Fourche, South Dakota]], {{coord|44|58|N|103|46|W|name=geographic center of 50 states}} *[[Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States|Geographic center of the 48 contiguous states]]: approximately 4 miles (6 km) west of [[Lebanon, Kansas]], {{coord|39|50|N|98|35|W|region:US-KS_type:landmark|name=geographic center of 48 contiguous states}} *Geographic center of North America: near Rugby, North Dakota, at 48°22′2″N 99°59′46″W. *[[Continental pole of inaccessibility]] of North America: between [[Kyle, South Dakota|Kyle]] and [[Allen, South Dakota|Allen]], South Dakota, located 1650 km (1024 mi) from the nearest coastline at {{Coord|43.36|N|101.97|W|name=Pole of Inaccessibility North America}}. *Closest to the equator: [[Baker Island]] is located at {{coord|display=inline|0|11|41|N|176|28|46|W|type:isle_scale:10000_region:UM-81_source:gnis-1392997|name=Baker Island}}. ==Interpretation of easternmost and westernmost== 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. ==See also== * [[Geography of the United States]] * [[Extreme points of Earth]] * [[Extreme points of North America]] * [[Extreme points of the Americas]] * [[Extreme points of New England]] * [[Extreme points of U.S. states]] (each state's extreme points) * [[List of U.S. states by elevation]] * [[Geographic centers of the United States]] ==External links== *[http://dizzy.library.arizona.edu/branches/spc/udall/address/pt_u.html Text of congressional resolution designating Udall Point, Guam] *Maps of Orote Point, Guam: **http://guampedia.com/maps-of-guam/ Maps of Guam, Guampedia, Guam's Online Encyclopedia **http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/australia/guam_pol_1991.pdf **http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/australia/guam_rel_1991.pdf **http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/topo/pacific_islands/txu-oclc-10552559-apra_harbor.jpg *[http://www.bootkeyharbor.com/Key%20West%20Islands.htm Map of Ballast Key, FL] *[http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/OnLineViewer.html Detailed US coastline maps] {{United States topics}} {{North America topic|Extreme points of}}