From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are a number of different interpretations for "easternmost" and "westernmost"; see
below for full treatment.
This is a list of points in the
United States 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
Extreme points in all U.S. territory:
Point Barrow ,
Rose Atoll ,
Wake Island ,
Peaked Island (red dots);
Point Udall, Guam , and
Point Udall, USVI are shown as green dots. The International Date Line is shown in yellow.
Northernmost points
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 the United States
Utqiaġvik, 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 5,000
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 incorporated 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 100,000 residents
Juneau, Alaska
58°17′57″N 134°25′13″W / 58.299104°N 134.420240°W / 58.299104; -134.420240 (Downtown Juneau, AK ) – northernmost capital city in the United States
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
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
Lynden, Washington
48°56′43″N 122°27′10″W / 48.94528°N 122.45278°W / 48.94528; -122.45278 (Lynden City Hall ) – northernmost city of more than 10,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
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
Everett, Washington
47°58′41″N 122°12′27″W / 47.97806°N 122.20750°W / 47.97806; -122.20750 (Everett City Hall ) – northernmost city of more than 100,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
Spokane, Washington
47°39′37″N 117°25′25″W / 47.66028°N 117.42361°W / 47.66028; -117.42361 (Spokane City Hall ) – northernmost city of more than 200,000 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
Olympia, Washington
47°2′16″N 122°54′3″W / 47.03778°N 122.90083°W / 47.03778; -122.90083 – northernmost capital city in the 48 contiguous states
Chicago ,
Illinois
41°53′1.9″N 87°37′53.87″W / 41.883861°N 87.6316306°W / 41.883861; -87.6316306 (Chicago City Hall ) – northernmost city of more than 1,000,000 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.
Southernmost points
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 the United States
[1]
Futiga, American Samoa
14°22′23″S 170°45′35″W / 14.372987°S 170.759741°W / -14.372987; -170.759741 (Steps Point, Futiga, American Samoa ) – southernmost town in the United States
Pago Pago ,
American Samoa
14°16′26″S 170°42′05″W / 14.273821°S 170.701265°W / -14.273821; -170.701265 (Downtown Pago Pago, American Samoa ) – southernmost capital city in the United States
Palmyra Atoll, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
5°53′2″N 162°4′42″W / 5.88389°N 162.07833°W / 5.88389; -162.07833 – southernmost point in all U.S. incorporated territory
San Juan, Puerto Rico
18°27′56″N 66°6′21″W / 18.46556°N 66.10583°W / 18.46556; -66.10583 – southernmost city of more than 250,000 residents in all U.S. 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
Discovery Harbour, Hawaii
19°02′3″N 155°37′49″W / 19.03417°N 155.63028°W / 19.03417; -155.63028 - southernmost settlement 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
Hilo, Hawaii
19°41′58″N 155°4′51″W / 19.69944°N 155.08083°W / 19.69944; -155.08083 – southernmost place with a population over 25,000 in the 50 states
City and County of Honolulu ,
Hawaii
21°18′19″N 157°51′25″W / 21.30528°N 157.85694°W / 21.30528; -157.85694 (Honolulu City Hall ) – southernmost U.S. state capital and southernmost incorporated place in the 50 states (Hawaii's only incorporated place)
Western Dry Rocks,
Florida Keys ,
Florida
24°26.8′N 81°55.6′W / 24.4467°N 81.9267°W / 24.4467; -81.9267 (Western Dry Rocks ) – 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′38.724″N 81°48′17.658″W / 24.54409000°N 81.80490500°W / 24.54409000; -81.80490500 (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
Florida City, Florida
25°26′54″N 80°28′57″W / 25.44833°N 80.48250°W / 25.44833; -80.48250 (Florida City City Hall ) – southernmost municipality in the contiguous U.S.
Miami, Florida
25°43′40″N 80°14′2″W / 25.72778°N 80.23389°W / 25.72778; -80.23389 (Miami City Hall ) – southernmost major metropolitan city in the 48 contiguous states
Cameron County, Texas
25°50′14.5″N 97°23′39.9″W / 25.837361°N 97.394417°W / 25.837361; -97.394417 – southernmost point on the
Mexico–United States border .
San Antonio ,
Texas
29°28′21″N 98°31′30″W / 29.4724°N 98.5251°W / 29.4724; -98.5251 (San Antonio ) – southernmost city of more than 1,000,000 residents in the United States
Austin, Texas
30°16′2″N 97°44′35″W / 30.26722°N 97.74306°W / 30.26722; -97.74306 – southernmost capital 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.
Easternmost points
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 the United States, by direction of travel
Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
17°44′54″N 64°43′00″W / 17.7482°N 64.7168°W / 17.7482; -64.7168 (Christainsted ) – easternmost town in the United States, by direction of travel
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
18°20′26″N 64°55′52″W / 18.340688°N 64.931065°W / 18.340688; -64.931065 (Downtown Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands ) – easternmost capital city in the United States, by direction of travel
San Juan, Puerto Rico
18°27′56″N 66°06′21″W / 18.4655°N 66.1057°W / 18.4655; -66.1057 (San Juan, PR ) – easternmost major city of more than 250,000 residents in all U.S. territory
Sail Rock,
Lubec, Maine
44°48′45.2″N 66°56′49.3″W / 44.812556°N 66.947028°W / 44.812556; -66.947028 (Sail Rock, Lubec, ME ) – easternmost point in the 50 states, by direction of travel and easternmost incorporated place in the 50 states
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
Bangor, Maine
44°49.3′N 68°43.1′W / 44.8217°N 68.7183°W / 44.8217; -68.7183 (Bangor, ME ) – easternmost city of more than 20,000 residents in the 50 states
Augusta, Maine
44°18′25″N 69°46′55″W / 44.307°N 69.782°W / 44.307; -69.782 (Augusta, ME ) – easternmost U.S. state capital
Portland, Maine
43°42.0′N 70°5.2′W / 43.7000°N 70.0867°W / 43.7000; -70.0867 (Portland, ME ) – easternmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 50 states
Boston, Massachusetts
42°19′55″N 71°01′13″W / 42.3320°N 71.0202°W / 42.3320; -71.0202 (Boston ) – easternmost city of more than 500,000 residents in the United States
New York City ,
New York
40°39′49″N 73°56′19″W / 40.6635°N 73.9387°W / 40.6635; -73.9387 (New York City ) – easternmost city of more than 1,000,000 residents in the United States
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
Northern Islands Municipality ,
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 municipality in all U.S. territory, by longitude
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
15°11′N 145°45′E / 15.183°N 145.750°E / 15.183; 145.750 (Saipan, MP ) – easternmost capital city in the United States, by longitude
Maine has the easternmost geographic center of the 50 states.
Westernmost points
Point Udall ,
Santa Rita ,
Guam (
13°26′51″N 144°37′5.5″E / 13.44750°N 144.618194°E / 13.44750; 144.618194 (Point Udall, Santa Rita, Guam ) ) – westernmost point and westernmost town in the United States, by direction of travel
Hagåtña, Guam
13°28′38″N 144°44′50″E / 13.477264°N 144.747249°E / 13.477264; 144.747249 (Downtown Hagåtña, Guam ) – westernmost capital city in the United States, 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. territories. West of it passes the
International Date Line , after which come
Russian territorial islands.
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 U.S. territories 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 city in the 50 states
Pago Pago, American Samoa
14°16′46″S 170°42′2″W / 14.27944°S 170.70056°W / -14.27944; -170.70056 (Pago Pago, AS ) – westernmost capital city in the United States, by longitude
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
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 2,500 residents in the 50 states
Honolulu, Hawaii
21°18′25″N 157°51′30″W / 21.30694°N 157.85833°W / 21.30694; -157.85833 (Honolulu, HI ) – westernmost U.S. state capital
Anchor Point, Alaska (
59°46′20.8914″N 151°52′2.373″W / 59.772469833°N 151.86732583°W / 59.772469833; -151.86732583 (Anchor Point, AK ) ) – westernmost point on the continuous road system of North America
[2]
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)
Neah Bay, Washington
48°21′56″N 124°36′56″W / 48.36556°N 124.61556°W / 48.36556; -124.61556 (Neah Bay, 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
42°03′19″N 124°17′15″W / 42.0553°N 124.2875°W / 42.0553; -124.2875 (Brookings City Hall ) – westernmost city of more than 5,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
Coos Bay, Oregon
43°22′05″N 124°13′03″W / 43.3681°N 124.2174°W / 43.3681; -124.2174 (Coos Bay City Hall ) – westernmost city of more than 10,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
Eureka, California
40°46.3′N 124°12.2′W / 40.7717°N 124.2033°W / 40.7717; -124.2033 (Eureka, CA ) – westernmost city of more than 25,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
Corvallis, Oregon
44°32.6′N 123°20.2′W / 44.5433°N 123.3367°W / 44.5433; -123.3367 (Corvallis, OR ) – westernmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
Eugene, Oregon
44°05.1′N 123°12.5′W / 44.0850°N 123.2083°W / 44.0850; -123.2083 (Eugene, OR ) – westernmost city of more than 100,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
Salem, Oregon
44°56′21″N 123°2′22″W / 44.93917°N 123.03944°W / 44.93917; -123.03944 (Salem, OR ) – westernmost capital city in the 48 contiguous states
Portland, Oregon
45°35.5′N 122°50.2′W / 45.5917°N 122.8367°W / 45.5917; -122.8367 (Portland, OR ) – westernmost city of more than 500,000 residents in the United States
San Jose ,
California
37°26.9′N 122°2.8′W / 37.4483°N 122.0467°W / 37.4483; -122.0467 (San Jose, CA ) – westernmost city of more than 1,000,000 residents in the United States
Hawaii has the westernmost geographic center of all the states.
Oregon has the westernmost geographic center of the 48 contiguous states.
Diomede, Alaska ,
Little Diomede Island
65°45.5′N 168°57.2′W / 65.7583°N 168.9533°W / 65.7583; -168.9533 - closest town to Russia
Big Diomede
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 the easternmost point,
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 the westernmost point,
Point Udall, Guam , than heading west would be, even accounting for circumpolar routes. The two different Point Udalls are named for two different men:
Mo Udall (Guam) and
Stewart Udall (Virgin Islands), brothers from the
Udall family of
Arizona who both served as
U.S. Congressmen .
[3]
Highest points
Denali ,
Alaska
63°4′9″N 151°0′23″W / 63.06917°N 151.00639°W / 63.06917; -151.00639 (Mount McKinley ) – highest summit in the United States, all US territories, and
North America at 20,310 feet (6,190.5 m) (known as Mount McKinley from 1896 to 2015)
[4]
Mount Whitney ,
[5]
[6]
[note 1]
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 ,
[7]
Colorado
39°38′1″N 105°49′3″W / 39.63361°N 105.81750°W / 39.63361; -105.81750 (Grays Peak ) – highest point on the
Continental Divide of North America at 14,270 feet (4,350 m)
Mauna Kea ,
[8]
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 (3,150 m))
[9]
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 9,550 feet (2,910 m))
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 based on a mean elevation (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); contiguous residential areas extend to 11,680 feet (3,560 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). (No residents of Leadville live above 10,360 feet (3,160 m))
Woodland Park, Colorado
38°59′54″N 105°3′23″W / 38.99833°N 105.05639°W / 38.99833; -105.05639 (Woodland Park, Colorado ) – highest city of more than 5,000 residents in all U.S. territory at 8,465 feet (2,580 m).
Laramie, Wyoming
41°18′40″N 105°35′37″W / 41.31111°N 105.59361°W / 41.31111; -105.59361 (Laramie, Wyoming ) – highest city of more than 10,000 residents in all U.S. territory at 7,165 feet (2,184 m).
Santa Fe, New Mexico
35°40′2″N 105°57′52″W / 35.66722°N 105.96444°W / 35.66722; -105.96444 (Santa Fe, New Mexico ) – highest city of more than 50,000 residents and highest capital city in all U.S. territory at 6,989 feet (2,130 m).
Colorado Springs, Colorado
38°50′2″N 104°49′31″W / 38.83389°N 104.82528°W / 38.83389; -104.82528 (Colorado Springs, Colorado ) – highest city of more than 100,000 residents in all U.S. territory at 6,035 feet (1,839 m).
Denver, Colorado
39°45′43″N 104°52′52″W / 39.76194°N 104.88111°W / 39.76194; -104.88111 (Denver, Colorado ) – highest major city of more than 500,000 residents in all U.S. territory at 5,280 feet (1,610 m).
Phoenix, Arizona
33°26′54″N 112°4′26″W / 33.44833°N 112.07389°W / 33.44833; -112.07389 (Phoenix, Arizona ) – highest major city of more than 1,000,000 residents in all U.S. territory at 1,085 feet (331 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)
Colorado
39°00′N 105°30′W / 39.000°N 105.500°W / 39.000; -105.500 (State of Colorado ) – highest
U.S. state based on 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)
Beech Mountain, North Carolina
36°12′23″N 81°52′59″W / 36.20639°N 81.88306°W / 36.20639; -81.88306 – highest incorporated community east of the
Mississippi River at an elevation of 5,506 feet (1,678 m).
Boone, North Carolina
36°12′41″N 81°40′7″W / 36.21139°N 81.66861°W / 36.21139; -81.66861 – highest elevation (3,333 feet, 1015.9 m) east of the Mississippi River of any town of its size (over 10,000 population).
Eisenhower Tunnel , west of
Denver, Colorado
39°40′43″N 105°55′12″W / 39.6785°N 105.92°W / 39.6785; -105.92 (Eisenhower Tunnel ) – highest point on the
Interstate Highway System , at 11,158 feet (3,401 m).
Lowest points
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 −279 feet (−85 m)
[10]
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 ,
[note 2]
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)
9th Ward of New Orleans ,
Louisiana ,
30°02′40″N 89°56′47″W / 30.04444°N 89.94639°W / 30.04444; -89.94639 (9th Ward of New Orleans, LA ) – lowest surface point in eastern United States, at −7 feet (−2.1 m)
New Orleans ,
Louisiana ,
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)
Delaware
39°0′17″N 75°32′46″W / 39.00472°N 75.54611°W / 39.00472; -75.54611 (State of Delaware ) –
lowest 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 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 freshwater point in all U.S. territory, at −732 feet (−223 m)
[note 3]
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 seawater point in the interior of the United States, at −956 feet (−291 m)
[note 4]
Other points
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 )
The
geographic center of North America is 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 (10 km) west of
Balta , in
Pierce County, North Dakota .
[11]
Closest to the equator:
Baker Island is at
0°11′41″N 176°28′46″W / 0.19472°N 176.47944°W / 0.19472; -176.47944 (Baker Island ) .
[12]
[13]
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.
The North American
pole of inaccessibility (distant from ocean access) is at
43°22′N 101°58′W / 43.367°N 101.967°W / 43.367; -101.967 (North American pole of inaccessibility ) , about 11 miles (18 km) 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 coastline.
The southwesternmost point of the contiguous United States is
Border Field State Park ,
California .
[14]
The northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States is
Cape Flattery ,
Washington .
[15]
The northeasternmost point of the contiguous United States is
Van Buren, Maine , 47°14.140'N, 68°01.233'W
[16]
Islands
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
40°52′10″N 73°00′00″W / 40.86944°N 73.00000°W / 40.86944; -73.00000 (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 ).
The most remote islands in the United States are within the
U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (namely, islands such as
Palmyra Atoll and
Johnston Atoll ).
[17]
[18]
Lakes
Lake Michigan-Huron
45°48′N 84°45′W / 45.800°N 84.750°W / 45.800; -84.750 (Lake Michigan-Huron ) – largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, at 45,300 square miles (117,000 km2 ), of which 31,507 square miles (81,600 km2 ) is within the United States.
Lake Superior
47°42′N 87°30′W / 47.700°N 87.500°W / 47.700; -87.500 – Lying along the
Canada–United States border , it is the second largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, at 31,700 sq mi (82,100 km2 ), of which 20,600 square miles (53,350 km2 ) is within the United States.
[19] It is also North America's largest lake by volume, at 2,900 cu mi (12,000 km3 ); it is commonly called the largest lake by surface area when Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are not considered one lake.
Great Salt Lake ,
Utah ,
41°10′N 112°35′W / 41.167°N 112.583°W / 41.167; -112.583 (Great Salt Lake ) – most extensive
endorheic lake , at 1,700 square miles (4,400 km2 ).
Crater Lake ,
Oregon ,
42°57′N 122°5′W / 42.950°N 122.083°W / 42.950; -122.083 (Deepest point in Crater Lake ) – deepest lake, at 1,943 feet (592 m).
[20]
Pacific Tarn ,
Colorado ,
39°25′11″N 106°07′11″W / 39.41972°N 106.11972°W / 39.41972; -106.11972 (Pacific Tarn ) – Highest elevation lake at 13,420 feet (4,090 m).
[21]
Rivers
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).
Bear River
41°27′30″N 112°17′25″W / 41.45833°N 112.29028°W / 41.45833; -112.29028 (Bear River ) – longest
endorheic basin main stem river at 491 miles (790 km).
Extreme distances
Greatest east–west distance in the 48 contiguous states: 2,800 miles (4,500 km)
Greatest north–south distance in the 48 contiguous states: 1,650 miles (2,660 km).
[22]
Greatest distance between any two points in 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).
[23]
Greatest distance between any two points in the 50 states: 5,859 miles (9,429 km), from
Kure Atoll ,
Hawaii , to
Log Point ,
Elliott Key ,
Florida .
[23]
Greatest distance between any two points in the contiguous 48 states: 2,901 miles (4,669 km), from
North Farallon Island ,
California , to Sail Rock, east of
West Quoddy Head ,
Maine .
[23]
Greatest driving distance between any US territory in contiguous lower 48 states (via US highway system): 3,689 miles (5,937 km), from
Fort Zachary Taylor ,
Key West, Florida , to
Cape Flattery, Washington .
Greatest distance between any two mainland points in the contiguous 48 states (linear distance): 2,892 miles (4,654 km), from
Point Arena ,
California , to West Quoddy Head, Maine.
[23]
Greatest east–west distance in U.S. territory [?]: 5,823 miles (9,371 km), from Kure Atoll, Hawaii, to
Riviera Beach , Florida.
[23]
Some
map projections make diagonal lines appear longer than they actually are. The diagonal line from Kure Atoll, Hawaii, to West Quoddy Head, Maine, is 5,797 miles (9,329 km); and the diagonal from
Cape Wrangell ,
Attu Island ,
Alaska , to Log Point, on Elliott Key, Florida, is 5,505 miles (8,859 km).
See also
Notes
^ The summit elevation of
Mount Whitney includes an adjustment of +1.869 m (+6.1 ft) from
NGVD 29 to
NAVD 88 .
^
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.
References
^
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^ The Milepost (61 ed.). 2009. p. 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 .
^ Mark Newell; Blaine Horner (September 2, 2015).
"New Elevation for Nation's Highest Peak" (Press release). USGS.
Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015 .
^
"Mount Whitney" . NGS Station Datasheet .
United States National Geodetic Survey .
Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2012 .
^
"Mount Whitney" . Peakbagger.com .
Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2012 .
^
"Grays Peak" . Peakbagger.com .
Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016 .
^
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Archived from the original on October 23, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2012 .
^
"About Taos Ski Valley" . Taos Ski Valley Chamber of Commerce. Archived from
the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 29, 2012 .
^
"USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) 1 meter Downloadable Data Collection from The National Map 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) - National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) National Elevation Data Set (NED)" .
United States Geological Survey . September 21, 2015. Archived from
the original on March 25, 2019. Retrieved September 22, 2015 .
^
"Kinda-Sorta Stand at the Center of North America in This North Dakota Town" . Jaunted . Archived from
the original on May 21, 2015. Retrieved May 20, 2015 .
^
"Baker Island" .
Geographic Names Information System .
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^
"CIA World Factbook: Jarvis Island" . CIA World Factbook . Archived from
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^ The Canyoneers (June 1, 2016).
"No bay at Border Field State Park for about 7000 years" . San Diego Reader .
Archived from the original on April 7, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017 . Binkowski, Brooke (October 8, 2012).
"Friendship Park — A Link Between Two Countries — Opens Again" . KPBS . San Diego.
Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved April 6, 2017 . San Diego's Friendship Park, or Border Field State Park, is tucked into the extreme southwest corner of the United States and the extreme northwest of Mexico, with fields on the U.S. side, the city of Tijuana on the other, and the blue Pacific Ocean to the west.
"Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan" (PDF) . Office of Coastal Management . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. August 2010.
Archived (PDF) from the original on November 8, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2017 .
^ National Geographic Society (U. S.); National Geographic (2013).
Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways . National Geographic. p. 4.
ISBN
978-1-4262-1014-3 . Victoriah Arsenian (December 22, 2015).
Moon Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip: California, Oregon & Washington . Avalon Publishing. p. 69.
ISBN
978-1-63121-029-7 .
^ Administrator.
"The Northeasternmost Point of the U.S. - ExtremeGeographer.com" . www.extremegeographer.com .
Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^
"Palmyra Atoll: Plan Your Visit" . FWS.gov . July 3, 2020. Archived from
the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2020 .
^
"Corrective Action At Johnston Atoll" . EPA.gov .
Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 3, 2020 .
^ Marsh, James H. (February 7, 2006).
"Lake Superior" . The Canadian Encyclopedia .
Archived from the original on August 29, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017 .
^
"Park Map Viewer" . Nps.gov .
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^
"Pacific Tarn" . Retrieved April 30, 2023 .
^
"Geography of the United States" . Geography.howstuffworks.com . Archived from
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^
a
b
c
d
e Services, Eastern Region Geography, Information.
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Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2018 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link )
Sovereign states Dependencies and other territories