# Geographical oddities (another thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895 "2014-12-10T23:11:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/201 "2014-12-23T12:01:33Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Something in your post reminded me of [an old thing about Calf Paths of the Mind.](http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2007/06/11) 🙂 Nice poem ! – material in this general vein is, one feels, appropriate for MPSIMS if anywhere… > [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I have a post on my blog [that might interest you](http://irishmemory.blogspot.ie/2013/02/aboard-partition-express-1948.html). > > You’re probably aware too that there was a spur line to Fintona that was horse drawn right up until the line was closed in the 1950s. Very interesting blog item – thanks. Those must have been the days ! – such experiences must have been maddening for people just wishing to travel from A to B, but fascinating. Ah, yes, the Fintona horse tram ! A terribly sad day at the end of September 1957, when that one was abandoned, plus its neighbouring larger brethren: the delightful Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway, independent to the last; and the Bundoran branch; and the four routes radiating from Clones – though the parts of these last within the Republic, continued in use for freight only under CIE (Irish Republic Transport) for a couple more years. I read about all this stuff as a kid, and found it enchanting: no chance to see it first-hand before it all perished – we were English resident in England, and sadly, my parents had no reason or wish to visit Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/202 "2014-12-25T08:14:01Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The easternmost point in the United States (and, arguably, in North America) is [Semisopochnoi Island, Alaska](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semisopochnoi_Island), which lies at 179°46’ East. It’s arguable that that’s the easternmost point in the US and in fact, I’ll argue against it. It’s only easternmost if you measure from Greenwich, England, but it seems that Greenwich is not within the US. If you measure from somewhere within the US (a much more logical thing to do), then the easternmost point is in Maine. > [@Ignatz](#): > > How about Canada-abuts St. Pierre & Miquelon (someone may have got these, I haven’t read all the posts.) And maybe U.K. which is quite near to Guadeloupe and Martinique. And do they meet in either the English Channel or the Chunnel? France has ocean borders with the UK and Canada, but people usually only consider land borders for such trivia. The Chunnel is, I expect, treated like a bridge and does not add a land border. Here’s another such question: how many countries does Spain border? Not counting Gibralter, that is. Speaking of ocean borders, because Fisher’s Island (owned by NY) is so close to RI, there is an ocean border between those two states. In fact, there’s a tripoint in the ocean where NY, RI and CT meet. Also, Illinois and Michigan have a lake border. Unlike the ocean, where state waters only go out 3 miles, a state’s ownership of lakes goes all the way to the middle or wherever the agreed upon boundary is. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/203 "2014-12-25T16:14:39Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > France has ocean borders with the UK and Canada, but people usually only consider land borders for such trivia. When I mentioned St. Pierre and Miquelon above, it was phrased as “what are the closest countries to Canada,” not in terms of boundaries. > [@](#): > > Here’s another such question: how many countries does Spain border? Not counting Gibralter, that is. In addition to Portugal, France, and Andorra, Spain has land borders with Morocco at the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/204 "2014-12-25T20:21:59Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > When I mentioned St. Pierre and Miquelon above, it was phrased as “what are the closest countries to Canada,” not in terms of boundaries. Right, but the person I was responding to was suggesting Canada as one of the countries that France borders on. > [@](#): > > In addition to Portugal, France, and Andorra, Spain has land borders with Morocco at the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. You got it. This subject reminds me of a question I came up with several years ago (and I’m sure I’m not the first to think of it). What’s the next country in this list? 1. Canada 2. Mexico 3. Russia 4. Bahamas 5. Cuba 6. ??? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/205 "2014-12-25T21:33:33Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > What’s the next country in this list? > > 1. Canada > 2. Mexico > 3. Russia > 4. Bahamas > 5. Cuba > 6. ??? Cayman Islands? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/206 "2014-12-25T23:29:01Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > It’s arguable that that’s the easternmost point in the US and in fact, I’ll argue against it. It’s only easternmost if you measure from Greenwich, England, but it seems that Greenwich is not within the US. If you measure from somewhere within the US (a much more logical thing to do), then the easternmost point is in Maine. Point Udall on St. Croix, USVI also makes a good case for the easternmost point in the U.S. I have been to that piece of rocky terrain right on the Caribbean many times because it is so pretty, desolate and has that distinction. St. Croix is part of the US Virgin Islands territory but it is still definitely part of the U.S. and this fact doesn’t depend on any arbitrary designation of east versus west. “Point Udall (17°45′20″N 64°33′55″WCoordinates: 17°45′20″N 64°33′55″W) at the east end of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands is the easternmost point (by travel, not longitude) in the United States including territories and insular areas.” > **[Point Udall (U.S. Virgin Islands)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Udall_%28U.S._Virgin_Islands%29)** > > Point Udall is at the east end of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is the easternmost point (by travel, not longitude) of the United States including insular areas. It was named in 1969 for Stewart Udall, United States Secretary of the Interior under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. > A sundial known as the Millennium Monument was built above Point Udall for the New Year's celebration in 2000 — it marks the azimuth of the first U.S. sunrise of that year. From the monument an ... ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/207 "2014-12-26T00:11:16Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Right, but the person I was responding to was suggesting Canada as one of the countries that France borders on. > > You got it. > > This subject reminds me of a question I came up with several years ago (and I’m sure I’m not the first to think of it). > > What’s the next country in this list? > > 1. Canada > 2. Mexico > 3. Russia > 4. Bahamas > 5. Cuba > 6. ??? Haiti? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/208 "2014-12-26T00:13:29Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Haiti? Cayman’s closer to US mainland (well, Key West) than Haiti is. Same for Turks and Caicos. I measured. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/209 "2014-12-26T00:22:08Z")
Probably best to reformulate that one, if it relies on calling Key West the mainland. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/210 "2014-12-26T00:23:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Cayman’s closer to US mainland (well, Key West) than Haiti is. Same for Turks and Caicos. I measured. 😉 Guantanamo Bay is US territory, correct? Gotcha ya! ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/211 "2014-12-26T00:34:23Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Guantanamo Bay is US territory, correct? > > Gotcha ya! Thinking about it, it would bring into play a bunch of countries at both poles, so I’ll give you this one. But only this once! ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/212 "2014-12-26T00:37:13Z")
If any US territory works, there are several answers that beat Haiti. The DR is closer to PR than Haiti is to Guantanamo, I believe. The British Virgin Islsnds are closer still to the USVI. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/213 "2014-12-26T02:41:37Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Guantanamo Bay is US territory, correct? > > Gotcha ya! I don’t believe it is. Leased land, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/214 "2014-12-26T02:48:46Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Guantanamo Bay is US territory, correct? > > Gotcha ya! No it isn’t. It’s still owned by Cuba, but leased by the US. (The current Cuabn government doesn’t agree with this lease, but is unable to change it.) As far as my question goes, I expected the answer of Jamaica. The Cayman Is. are a British overseas territory and I was only considering sovereign nations. For anyone not getting it, they’re the closest countries to the US, meaning the 50 states (including any islands that are parts of those states) but not US possessions such as Puerto Rico. It would have been the wrong list for the US plus possessions, since Dominican Republic is closer to PR than Cuba is to Florida. I’m not sure what the next few on the list are. I think it’s Belize[sup]1[/sup] and then France (St Pierre & Miquelon) followed by Haiti, although I may have those mixed up. [sup]1[/sup] Measure from the Dry Tortugas, which are part of Florida. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/215 "2014-12-26T03:34:49Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > As far as my question goes, I expected the answer of Jamaica. The Cayman Is. are a British overseas territory and I was only considering sovereign nations. But: If your question had been which are the closest countries _or territories_ to the US, I believe Cayman would be the correct answer. Or is there a territory closer? I don’t think so. So if I’m correct about that, your question had a bit of an element of “guess what I’m thinking”, if you insist that Jamaica is the only correct answer. Still, an excellent question and a fun exercise! Thanks!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/216 "2014-12-26T04:21:05Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > But: If your question had been which are the closest countries _or territories_ to the US, I believe Cayman would be the correct answer. Or is there a territory closer? I don’t think so. Pretty sure you’re right there. > [@](#): > > So if I’m correct about that, your question had a bit of an element of “guess what I’m thinking”, if you insist that Jamaica is the only correct answer. I’m not saying it’s the only correct answer, just the one I expected. My thinking is that since I only considered distances from the US proper (i.e. not counting possessions) it would be reasonable to not consider possessions of other countries as valid answers. That’s kind of a subtle point though, so it’s understandable if everyone missed it. > [@](#): > > Still, an excellent question and a fun exercise! Thanks!! 😃 Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/217 "2014-12-26T22:21:08Z")
The town of Port Roberts WA is only land accessible by driving through Canada [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Point+Roberts,+WA/@49.0549744,-122.9196865,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x5485e5ffff02c5fd:0x2b6ed49177b716a](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Point+Roberts,+WA/@49.0549744,-122.9196865,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x5485e5ffff02c5fd:0x2b6ed49177b716a) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/218 "2014-12-27T01:08:46Z")
Despite the “Aw, shucks” nature of this post, I wanted to thank the folks who read my question back on page 2 (High points of states being so close to state borders), took it seriously–without an iota of snark, cleaned it up for me, gave me a damn fine answer or two, plus a nifty anecdote/factoid. You folks are the best! Apropos of nothing, here’s an [OLD column from the Master](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/280/where-can-i-go-to-really-get-away-from-it-all) that might be squozen in here; not exactly **You can’t get there from here** , more like **Why would you bother?** ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/219 "2014-12-27T01:26:45Z")
> **[Quoddy Head State Park](https://www.stateparks.com/quoddy_head_state_park_in_maine.html)** > > Quoddy Head State Park is located four miles off Maine Route 189 in Lubec on the easternmost point of land in the United States. On its 532 acres, purchased by the state in 1962, the park features 4. _West_ Quoddy State Park, in Lubec, Maine is the Easternmost point in the USA (From POV of USA, not Prime Meridian) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2014, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895/220 "2014-12-27T02:06:25Z")
> [@txjim](#): > > The town of Port Roberts WA is only land accessible by driving through Canada > > [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Point+Roberts,+WA/@49.0549744,-122.9196865,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x5485e5ffff02c5fd:0x2b6ed49177b716a](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Point+Roberts,+WA/@49.0549744,-122.9196865,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x5485e5ffff02c5fd:0x2b6ed49177b716a) Technically, it could also be accessed by boat or hovercraft, which places it in the same category as Minnesota’s Northwest Angle, the one bit of territory that is furthest north in the lower 48. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographical-oddities-another-thread/706895.md?page=12)