Extreme points of the United States

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

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  – northernmost point in all U.S. territory
• Barrow, Alaska  – northernmost incorporated place in all U.S. territory, population about 4,000
• Fairbanks, Alaska  – northernmost city of more than 20,000 residents, and northernmost city with public road access
• Anchorage, Alaska  – northernmost city of more than 250,000 residents
• Northwest Angle Inlet in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota  – 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  – 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  – northernmost city of more than 50,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states
• Seattle, Washington  – 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 farther 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 farther 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 farther 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

• Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica () – southernmost point under United States jurisdiction
• Rose Atoll, American Samoa () – southernmost point in all U.S.-controlled territory
• Palmyra Atoll - southernmost point in all US incorporated territory
• Ka Lae, Hawaii () – southernmost point in the 50 states
• Nā'ālehu, Hawaii () – southernmost town in the 50 states
• City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii – southernmost incorporated place in the 50 states (Hawaii’s only incorporated place)
• Cameron County, Texas- 25°50'14.5"N 97°23'39.9"W Southernmost point in 48 contiguous states mainland and with Mexican border.
• Western Dry Rocks, Florida () – In the Florida Keys - southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide
• Ballast Key, Florida () – southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water
• Key West, Florida () – southernmost incorporated place in the contiguous 48 states
• Cape Sable, Florida () – 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 25.50 degrees North latitude. This line of latitude passes through Hialeah, Florida, which is slightly north of Miami.

Easternmost points

• Point Udall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands  – easternmost point in all U.S. territory, by direction of travel
• Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands  – easternmost town in all US territory, by direction of travel
• Sail Rock , just offshore of West Quoddy Head, Maine – easternmost point in the 50 states, by direction of travel
• West Quoddy Head, Maine  – easternmost point on the U.S. mainland
• Lubec, Maine  – easternmost incorporated place in the 50 states
• Eastport, Maine – easternmost incorporated city in the 50 states^[2]
• Calais, Maine – easternmost city of more than 2,500 residents in the 50 states
• Houlton, Maine – easternmost city of more than 5,000 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)
• Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island, Alaska  – easternmost point in all U.S. territory by longitude -- ironically, in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands "west" of the westernmost point in the US by longitude (Amatignak Island) due to interposition of 180° longitude, which conventionally divides "west" from "east" in geographic terms.
• Peacock Point, Wake Island  – first sunrise (at equinox) in all U.S. territory
• Northern Islands Municipality, Northern Mariana Islands  – easternmost municipality in all US territory, by longitude
• 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 farther 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 Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania – farther west than all of New York, New Jersey, and all of the New England states.

Westernmost points

• Point Udall, Guam () – westernmost point in all U.S. territory, by direction of travel
• Peaked Island, offshore from Cape Wrangell, Attu Island, Alaska  – westernmost point in the 50 states by direction of travel, and last sunset (at equinox) in all U.S. territory. West of it passes the International Date Line, after which comes Russian territorial islands
• Amatignak Island, Alaska  – technically, westernmost point in all of US territory by longitude, but not the westernmost of the US Aleutian Islands. It possesses the highest longitude west figure (179°8'55"W) before 180° longitude, which passes west of it. After 180°, longitude is termed "east" and declines numerically.
• Adak, Alaska  – westernmost incorporated city in the 50 states
• Unalaska, Alaska - westernmost city of more than 2,500 residents in the 50 states
• Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska  – westernmost point on the North American continent
• Anchor Point, Alaska () – Westernmost point on the continuous road system of North America^[3]
• Umatilla Reef, offshore from Cape Alava, Washington () – westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states occasionally above water at low tide
• Bodelteh Islands, offshore from Cape Alava, Washington  – westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states continuously above water
• Cape Alava, Washington () – westernmost point on the U.S. mainland (contiguous)
• Ozette, Washington  – westernmost town in the 48 contiguous states
• Port Orford, Oregon  – westernmost incorporated place in the 48 contiguous states
• Brookings, Oregon – westernmost city of more than 5,000 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

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

• Mount McKinley (Denali),^[5][6] Alaska, United States  – highest summit in the United States, all US territories, and North America at 20,236 feet (6,168 m)
• Mount Whitney,^{[7][8][9][10]} California  – highest point in the 48 contiguous states at 14,505 feet (4,421 m)
• Grays Peak,^{[11][12][13][14]} Colorado, United States  – highest point on the Continental Divide of North America at 14,278 feet (4,352 m)
• Mauna Kea,^[15][16] Hawaiʻi  – 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  – 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))^[17]
• Winter Park, Colorado  – 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 (3,000 m))
• San Juan County, Colorado  – highest U.S. county with a mean elevation of 11,240 feet (3,430 m)
• Alma, Colorado  – highest town in all U.S. territory at 10,355 feet (3,156 m)
• Leadville, Colorado  – highest city in all U.S. territory at 10,152 feet (3,094 m)
• Lake County Airport, Colorado  – highest airfield in all U.S. territory and North America at 9,927 feet (3,026 m)
• New Mexico State Capitol, Santa Fe  – highest state capitol in the United States at 7,005 feet (2,135 m)
• State of Colorado  – highest U.S. state with an average elevation of 6,800 feet (2,100 m)
• Mount Mitchell, North Carolina  – highest point in eastern United States at 6,684 feet (2,037 m)
• Mount Washington, New Hampshire  – highest point in northeastern United States at 6,288 feet (1,917 m)
• Arikaree River, Yuma County, Colorado at Kansas state line  – highest U.S. state low point at 3,317 feet (1,011 m)

Lowest points

• Badwater Basin, Death Valley, California  – lowest surface point in all U.S. territory and North America at −282 feet (−86 m)
• Salton Sea, California  – lowest lake in all U.S. territory and North America at −226 feet (−69 m)
• Furnace Creek Airport, California  – lowest airfield in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere at −210 feet (−64 m)
• Furnace Creek, California^[18]  – lowest settlement in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere at −190 feet (−58 m)
• Calipatria, California  – lowest city in all U.S. territory and Western Hemisphere at −184 feet (−56 m)
• Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana  – lowest surface point in eastern United States at −7 feet (−2.1 m)
• 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  – lowest U.S. state with an average elevation of 60 feet (18 m)
• Britton Hill, Florida  – lowest U.S. state high point at 345 feet (105 m)
• Lake Superior bottom, Michigan  – lowest fresh water point in all U.S. territory at −732 feet (−223 m)^[19]
• Puget Sound bottom, Washington  – lowest sea water point in the interior of the United States at −956 feet (−291 m)^[20]

Other points

• International Falls, Minnesota Geographic center near the 49th parallel. Distance from ocean about 1,600 miles (2,600 km).
• Most remote point in the 50 states: Ipnavik River, National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, ; 120 miles (190 km) from nearest habitation
• Geographic center of the 50 states: approximately 20 miles (32 km) north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota,
• Geographic center of the 48 contiguous states: approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Lebanon, Kansas,
• Closest to the equator: Baker Island is located at .^[21][22][23]
• The geographic center of the North American continent is located at , about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Balta in Pierce County, North Dakota.
• The North American pole of inaccessibility is located at , 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.

Islands

• Island of Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi  – 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  – most extensive Gulf of Alaska island at 3,595.09 square miles (9,311.2 km²)
• Island of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico  – most extensive island of U.S. Caribbean territory at 3,515.1 square miles (9,104 km²)
• Prince of Wales Island, Alaska  – most extensive island of the Alexander Archipelago at 2,577 square miles (6,670 km²)
• Saint Lawrence Island, Alaska  – most extensive Bering Sea island at 1,791.56 square miles (4,640.1 km²)
• Unimak Island, Alaska  – most extensive Aleutian island at 1,571.41 square miles (4,069.9 km²)
• Long Island, New York  – most extensive island of the U.S. Atlantic coast at 1,401 square miles (3,630 km²)
• Padre Island, Texas  – 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  – most extensive island in a lake in all U.S. territory at 206.73 square miles (535.4 km²)
• Whidbey Island, Washington  – most extensive island of Puget Sound at 168.67 square miles (436.9 km²)
• Santa Cruz Island, California  – most extensive of the Channel Islands of California at 97 square miles (250 km²)

Lakes

• Lake Superior  – most voluminous lake at 2,800 cubic miles (12,000 km³)
• Lake Michigan–Huron  – most extensive lake and the most extensive fresh water lake on Earth at 45,445 square miles (117,700 km²)
• Great Salt Lake, Utah  – most extensive endorheic lake at 1,700 square miles (4,400 km²)
• Crater Lake, Oregon  – deepest lake at 1,943 feet (592 m)^[24]

Rivers

• Mississippi River  – most extensive river basin at 1,151,000 square miles (2,980,000 km²)
• Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson Rivers  – longest river system at 3,902 miles (6,280 km)
• Missouri River  – longest main stem river at 2,341 miles (3,767 km)
• Mississippi River  – longest Gulf of Mexico main stem river at 2,202 miles (3,544 km)
• Yukon River  – longest Bering Sea main stem river at 1,979 miles (3,185 km)
• Colorado River  – longest Gulf of California main stem river at 1,450 miles (2,330 km)
• Columbia River  – longest Pacific Ocean main stem river at 1,243 miles (2,000 km)
• Saint Lawrence River  – longest Atlantic Ocean main stem river at 600 miles (970 km)

Extremes in distance

• 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).^[25]
• 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).^[26]
• 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.^[26]
• 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.^[26]
• 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.^[26]
• Greatest distance between two points on the same latitude: 5,823 miles (9,371 km) from Kure Atoll, Hawaii to Riviera Beach, Florida.^[26]

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

• Geography of the United States
• Extreme points of the Earth
  • Extreme points of the Americas
    • Extreme points of North America
      • Extreme points of Canada
        • Extreme points of Canadian provinces
        • Extreme communities of Canada
      • Extreme points of Greenland
      • Extreme points of Mexico
      • Extreme points of the United States
        • Extreme points of U.S. states
          • Extreme points of Massachusetts
          • Extreme Points of Texas
        • Extreme points of New England
      • Extreme points of Central America
      • Extreme points of the Caribbean
        • Extreme points of Cuba
    • Extreme points of South America

References

External links

• 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
• Map of Ballast Key, FL
• Detailed US coastline maps