# Some Geography Trivia Fun: Degree Confluences **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 28, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767 "2010-02-28T19:17:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/41 "2010-03-07T18:59:46Z")
> [@'\[Undecided](#): > > Adrian;12197674’]The two nearest to me are 49°N 9°E, 5 km north of which I had an unplanned landing in a field with my glider, and 50°N 9°E near Frankfurt, where I drove by on the Autobahn 3. Neither was at the exact spot, though. Outstanding! Our first report outside North America! Here’s hoping others around the world will find this thread appealing, too. I have no problem with two (or more) confluences being “nearest” you if that’s the way things are. You could be dead center of a rectangle formed by four and have that issue to report. Surely, **[Undecided] Adrian**, you didn’t pick your username for this reason! 🙂 One of the photos at one of your confluences [here](http://www.confluence.org/photo.php?visitid=15452&pic=1) reminded me of a guy I knew giving directions to his home. He said something like, “Go west on US 49 until you come to the white 53 Ford on the side of the road. Take a right there.” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/42 "2010-03-07T19:02:57Z")
Here are the latest lists: ```auto [Undecided] Adrian ---- 49N 9E [Undecided] Adrian ---- 50N 9E Opal ------------------ 42N 71W Edward The Head ------- 39N 77W Polycarp -------------- 36N 78W ErinPuff -------------- 36N 79W KennerTheGreat -------- 46N 80W Giles ----------------- 40N 83W BobLibDem ------------- 43N 84W RalfCoder ------------- 43N 84W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W dhkendall ------------- 50N 97W Haunted Pasta --------- 30N 98W Lamar Mundane --------- 40N 105W Enginerd -------------- 39N 120W Nametag --------------- 38N 122W GESancMan ------------- 45N 123W ``` ```auto Haunted Pasta --------- 30N 98W Polycarp -------------- 36N 78W ErinPuff -------------- 36N 79W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W Nametag --------------- 38N 122W Edward The Head ------- 39N 77W Enginerd -------------- 39N 120W Giles ----------------- 40N 83W Lamar Mundane --------- 40N 105W Opal ------------------ 42N 71W Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W BobLibDem ------------- 43N 84W RalfCoder ------------- 43N 84W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W GESancMan ------------- 45N 123W KennerTheGreat -------- 46N 80W [Undecided] Adrian ---- 49N 9E [Undecided] Adrian ---- 50N 9E dhkendall ------------- 50N 97W ``` ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/43 "2010-03-07T20:35:38Z")
Not too far from you, Zeldar, I’m a bit closer to 36N 86W though. [DCP: (visit #2)](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=36&lon=-86) I’ve been down that way wandering the backroads and it is pretty country. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/44 "2010-03-07T20:43:41Z")
> [@missred](#): > > Not too far from you, Zeldar, I’m a bit closer to 36N 86W though. [http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=36&lon=-86](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=36&lon=-86) > > I’ve been down that way wandering the backroads and it is pretty country. Great to hear from homefolks! Here’s your position in both lists: By latitude: ```auto Polycarp -------------- 36N 78W ErinPuff -------------- 36N 79W missred --------------- 36N 86W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W Nametag --------------- 38N 122W ``` By longitude: ```auto BobLibDem ------------- 43N 84W RalfCoder ------------- 43N 84W missred --------------- 36N 86W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W ``` ---
**Author:** ![RalfCoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RalfCoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RalfCoder)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/45 "2010-03-08T02:06:20Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Is it possible you got those numbers backward? Uh… oops… Yeah, that was backwards. But it actually should be 43N, _ **85** _W. I got in a hurry typing it, apparently. :smack: And I drove by this point this afternoon on the way home from a ski day with my son. I didn’t really have time to stop, though. > [@Zeldar](#): > > If the numbers are right, > > ```auto > > BobLibDem ------------- 43N 84W > RalfCoder ------------- 43N 84W > > ``` > > we have our first match! Close - but not quite, now. However, if BobLibDem is in East Lansing, we’re pretty close, any way. I work in EL. Bob - if you’re interested, drop me a note. We could have a mini-dope-fest - maybe lunch at Crunchy’s or some other watering hole along Grand River? ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/46 "2010-03-08T13:15:17Z")
> [@RalfCoder](#): > > Uh… oops… Yeah, that was backwards. But it actually should be 43N, _ **85** _W. I got in a hurry typing it, apparently. :smack: Thanks for the correction, **RalfCoder**. So instead of our first match we have a sequence of longitudes going: ```auto Giles ----------------- 40N 83W BobLibDem ------------- 43N 84W RalfCoder ------------- 43N 85W missred --------------- 36N 86W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W ``` Another thing **RalfCoder** , if and when we ever decide to modify the basic DopeFest to a “Confluence Party” I think your mention of the idea should be given credit for it. And here’s a challenge to Middle Tennessee Dopers: if you don’t want to bother with the links to either **missred** ’s or my nearest confluence, but want to say “same as **missred** ” or “same as **Zeldar** ” then that will work fine as far as I’m concerned. This would apply to all other previously mentioned confluences. Who wants to take the ball and set up the first Confluence Party? ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/47 "2010-03-08T19:13:55Z")
Approximately 22 miles as the crow flies from [40 North, 90 West](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?id=429), which is… a field, in rural west-central Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/48 "2010-03-08T19:51:26Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > Approximately 22 miles as the crow flies from [40 North, 90 West](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?id=429), which is… a field, in rural west-central Illinois. Thanks. Here’s your place in the lists: ```auto Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W HeyHomie -------------- 40N 90W dhkendall ------------- 50N 97W Haunted Pasta --------- 30N 98W ``` ```auto Edward The Head ------- 39N 77W Enginerd -------------- 39N 120W Giles ----------------- 40N 83W HeyHomie -------------- 40N 90W Lamar Mundane --------- 40N 105W Opal ------------------ 42N 71W Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W ``` ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/49 "2010-03-09T17:49:48Z")
37n 90w ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/50 "2010-03-09T17:59:48Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > 37n 90w Thanks. Here are your slots in the lists: ```auto Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W notfrommensa ---------- 37N 90W HeyHomie -------------- 40N 90W dhkendall ------------- 50N 97W ``` ```auto Polycarp -------------- 36N 78W ErinPuff -------------- 36N 79W missred --------------- 36N 86W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W notfrommensa ---------- 37N 90W Nametag --------------- 38N 122W ``` ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/51 "2010-03-09T18:34:46Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Who wants to take the ball and set up the first Confluence Party? Let’s have our confluence party at the mother of all confluences - 0N 0E! There’s gotta be something cool-ass there! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/52 "2010-03-09T18:42:53Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > Let’s have our confluence party at the mother of all confluences - 0N 0E! > There’s gotta be something cool-ass there! > :rolleyes: Suppose we’d have to charter a boat of some description. Where would we gather before the launch? Here’s what [0° 0° Intl. Waters : Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Guinea, Atlantic Ocean, Intl. Waters Approx. altitude: 0 m (0 ft) Antipode: 0° 180°](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=0&lon=0) looks like. We could look for the nearest dry land to there, I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/53 "2010-03-09T18:46:30Z")
I suppose the new page is a good place for the full lists. ```auto Longitude E-W [Undecided] Adrian ---- 49N 9E [Undecided] Adrian ---- 50N 9E Opal ------------------ 42N 71W Edward The Head ------- 39N 77W Polycarp -------------- 36N 78W ErinPuff -------------- 36N 79W KennerTheGreat -------- 46N 80W Giles ----------------- 40N 83W BobLibDem ------------- 43N 84W RalfCoder ------------- 43N 85W missred --------------- 36N 86W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W notfrommensa ---------- 37N 90W HeyHomie -------------- 40N 90W dhkendall ------------- 50N 97W Haunted Pasta --------- 30N 98W Lamar Mundane --------- 40N 105W Enginerd -------------- 39N 120W Nametag --------------- 38N 122W GESancMan ------------- 45N 123W ``` ```auto Latitude S-N Haunted Pasta --------- 30N 98W Polycarp -------------- 36N 78W ErinPuff -------------- 36N 79W missred --------------- 36N 86W Zeldar ---------------- 36N 87W notfrommensa ---------- 37N 90W Nametag --------------- 38N 122W Edward The Head ------- 39N 77W Enginerd -------------- 39N 120W Giles ----------------- 40N 83W HeyHomie -------------- 40N 90W Lamar Mundane --------- 40N 105W Opal ------------------ 42N 71W Freddy the Pig -------- 42N 88W BobLibDem ------------- 43N 84W RalfCoder ------------- 43N 85W Joey P ---------------- 43N 88W GESancMan ------------- 45N 123W KennerTheGreat -------- 46N 80W [Undecided] Adrian ---- 49N 9E [Undecided] Adrian ---- 50N 9E dhkendall ------------- 50N 97W ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/54 "2010-03-09T18:59:32Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Here’s what > [0° 0° > Intl. Waters : Atlantic Ocean > in the Gulf of Guinea, Atlantic Ocean, Intl. Waters > Approx. altitude: 0 m (0 ft) > Antipode: 0° 180°](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=0&lon=0) > looks like. > > We could look for the nearest dry land to there, I reckon. If [this map](http://www.mapquest.com/maps?l=0.0&g=0.0) isn’t zoomed out enough to see it immediately, try three clicks from max zoom out to see that the 0-0 spot is nearly due south of Accra and due west of Libreville, with the Sao Tom spot between 0-0 and Libreville. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/55 "2010-03-09T19:04:59Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > If [this map](http://www.mapquest.com/maps?l=0.0&g=0.0) isn’t zoomed out enough to see it immediately, try three clicks from max zoom out to see that the 0-0 spot is nearly due south of Accra and due west of Libreville, with the Sao Tom spot between 0-0 and Libreville. [0° 7°E Sao Tome & Principe 38.6 km (24.0 miles) ESE of Ribeira Afonso, Ilha de São Tomé, Sao Tome & Principe Approx. altitude: 0 m (0 ft) Antipode: 0° 173°W Accuracy: 37 m (121 ft)](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=0&lon=7) may be the nearest dry land to 0-0. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/56 "2010-03-09T19:11:14Z")
> [@RalfCoder](#): > > . However, if BobLibDem is in East Lansing, we’re pretty close, any way. I work in EL. Bob - if you’re interested, drop me a note. We could have a mini-dope-fest - maybe lunch at Crunchy’s or some other watering hole along Grand River? Actually, I’m in Okemos and work in Dimondale. Crunchy’s would be cool though. Best burger around, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/57 "2010-03-09T19:35:10Z")
Of course, it’s not a confluence, but 0° E 51.48°N is not a bad place to meet (it’s in Greenwich Park, next to the Royal Observatory there). I’ve been there (more or less), and to the point about half-way between the two nearest confluences (0° E 51.5°N – next to North Greenwich tube station). ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/58 "2010-03-12T16:24:44Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Of course, it’s not a confluence, but 0° E 51.48°N is not a bad place to meet (it’s in Greenwich Park, next to the Royal Observatory there). I’ve been there (more or less), and to the point about half-way between the two nearest confluences (0° E 51.5°N – next to North Greenwich tube station). That’s definitely one to consider. For more possibilities for sites for our first “Confluence Party” check out [Special Visits](http://www.confluence.org/special.php). Upthread I zoomed in on the Geographical Center of the Contiguous 48 States, which turns out to be about as far from a confluence as any we have posted for our own nearest ones. Check out [missred’s nearest](http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?lat=36&lon=-86) for the closest to Tennessee’s midpoint which is about halfway from that spot toward Murfreesboro. [Check this map.](http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Liberty&state=TN&zipcode=37095&country=US&latitude=36.0&longitude=-86.0&geocode=LATLNG) Anybody with the urge to do it could locate their own state’s center point and show us the closest confluence to it. Let’s find some more fun with this concept. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/59 "2011-06-27T19:12:12Z")
It’s been 15+ months since the latest post and I thought it might be fun to bump this. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767/60 "2014-09-13T04:21:53Z")
I’m bumping this instead of linking back to it because I have had bad luck with the latter approach with other older threads. I had a new idea for some trivia geekery that I’m hoping to get some input from you fans about. The basic idea is to select four cities / towns in the USA (contiguous 48 states) that represent the places that are halfway from Lebanon, Kansas (the alleged center of the 48 contiguous states) and the extremes of the NW, SW, SE and NE points of the country. Using those four cities as reference points in a poll, have Dopers pick which of those four is nearest their home. If Lebanon, KS, is closer, they could also say so , or any of those other extremes as well. ==================================== Here’s some preliminary data I have collected, and I’d love to hear ideas on how to proceed with this project. [http://www.symsys.com/~ingram/mileage/index.php](http://www.symsys.com/~ingram/mileage/index.php) > **[List of geographic centers of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_centers_of_the_United_States)** > > This is a list of geographic centers of each U.S. state and inhabited territory. The geographic center of the United States is northeast of Belle Fourche in Butte County, South Dakota (.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}44°58′N 103°46′W / ... > **[Geographic center of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_center_of_the_contiguous_United_States)** > > The geographic center of the United States is a point approximately 20 mi (32 km) north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota at .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}44°58′2.07622″N 103°46′17.60283″W / 44.9672433944°N 103.7715563417°W / 44.9672433... Modern methodology has identified the location as Latitude 39.828127, Longitude -98.579404 The geographic center of the contiguous United States is a point near the town of Lebanon, Kansas (Lat. 39°50’ Long. -98°35’). It is located about 2.6 miles northwest of the center of Lebanon, Kansas. It has been regarded as such by the U.S. National Geodetic Survey (NGS) since the 1912 additions of New Mexico and Arizona to the United States. It is located at 39°50’N 98°35’W. 48°N 124°W – Port Angeles, WA (NW) The distance from Port Angeles, Washington to Lebanon, Kansas is approximately 1355.3 miles (2181.1 km). 33°N 119°W – San Diego, CA (SW) The distance from Lebanon, Kansas to San Diego, California is approximately 1141.4 miles (1837.0 km). 47°N 68°W – Van Buren, ME (NE) The distance from Van Buren, Maine to Lebanon, Kansas is approximately 1604.0 miles (2581.5 km). 25°N 81°W – Marathon, FL (SE) The distance from Marathon, Florida to Lebanon, Kansas is approximately 1454.6 miles (2340.9 km). The distance from Port Angeles, Washington to Marathon, Florida is approximately 2804.1 miles (4512.8 km). The distance from Van Buren, Maine to San Diego, California is approximately 2736.7 miles (4404.2 km). Halfway NE-SW (47-33) (119-68) [40 - 93.5] Laredo, MO The distance from Lebanon, Kansas to Laredo, Missouri is approximately 270.5 miles (435.4 km). Halfway NW-SE (48-25) (124-81) [36.5 - 102.5] Boise City, OK The distance from Lebanon, Kansas to Boise City, Oklahoma is approximately 301.6 miles (485.4 km). The distance from Laredo, Missouri to Boise City, Oklahoma is approximately 540.4 miles (869.7 km). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-geography-trivia-fun-degree-confluences/530767.md?page=4)