I’m new here, so be kind.
I remember being surprised to learn a few years back that fully 27 of the 50 U.S. states have at least part of their border north of the southernmost part of Canada (Pelee Island).
Now I can’t remember where I learned that. Was it from the Straight Dope, back when I lived in Chicago and read the column in the Reader every week?
Thanks for any help you can offer.
–Johnny
P.S. Is it safe to reveal one’s e-maill addy here, or will it get swept up by spammers?
I don’t remember seeing it here, but it comes up often in trivia books and such like - it’s a good bar bet, just like there are spots in Saskatchewan where you are both south and west of Manitoba.
Looking at a map I have on my computer, the southern-most point of Canada is where the international border that runs through the middle of Lake Erie dips furthest south, about 23 miles NW of Lorain, OH, at about 41[sup]o[/sup] 41’ N latitude.
So, states that have any area north of that are:
[list=1]
[li]Alaska[/li][li]California[/li][li]Connecticut[/li][li]Idaho[/li][li]Illinois[/li][li]Indiana[/li][li]Iowa[/li][li]Maine[/li][li]Massachusetts[/li][li]Michigan[/li][li]Minnesota[/li][li]Montana[/li][li]Nebraska[/li][li]Nevada[/li][li]New Hampshire[/li][li]New York[/li][li]North Dakota[/li][li]Ohio[/li][li]Oregon[/li][li]Pennsylvania[/li][li]Rhode Island[/li][li]South Dakota[/li][li]Utah[/li][li]Vermont[/li][li]Washington[/li][li]Wisconsin[/li][li]Wyoming[/li][/list=1]
Yep, 27 of them.
Similar trivia: 9 continental US states have area south of the southern-most point of California. I’ll leave it for an exercise for you to find out.
Of course, the real trick is to number (or, better, name) the U.S. states from which you can enter Canada by proceeding due south (without going all the way around the world smart alecs).
Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Michigan, maybe Minnesota (my maps not detailed enough), and Alaska.
Of course, tomndebb, to defeat your parenthetical exception: you can only travel a finite distance south on the Earth, reaching the South Pole. If you travel any further, you’re headed north. :D:D:D
You might have heard the “how many states south of Canada” question on the Genus edition of Trivial Pursuit, barelybad. IIRC, that is were I first heard it.
Also, I have had my email on here for a few months and haven’t gotten spammed. I have gotten a couple of nice emails from fellow Dopers, though, so I think it is worth the risk.
Without looking at a map, which of the lower 48 states can be entered from Canada without travelling south of the 49th parallel?
Minnesota at Lake of the Woods (although you can only get to the Red Lake Indian Reservation by car from Manitoba; you have to use a boat across the lake to get to the rest of MN).
what about Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York? Do any of them jut above 49°?
You left out Washington. Discovery Island in British Columbia is about 15 miles due south of Stuart Island, Washington.
You left out Washington. Discovery Island in British Columbia is about 15 miles due south of Stuart Island, Washington.
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My map doesn’t show Discovery Island (or maybe it’s just not labeled), but it does show that Saturna I., BC is due south of Pt. Roberts, Washington.
And the winnner is ::drumrollllllllll:: tomndebb for not only identifying which state, Minnesota, but also identifying where in that state, Lake of the Woods.
And the runner up is ::doubleflam rimshot:: jti, who gave a jolly good run at it, but came up about a degree and a half short with the jutting of Maine.
And the prize to these two bright and daring contestants? A weekend exploring the lake in question by canoe. ::the crowd goes wild and confetti rains down as the contestants smile to the cameras and are escorted off stage::
Too true. Also, Satura Island, BC, is due south of Point Roberts, WA.
Nope. Maine, the northernmost state in New England, only goes up to 47°28’N
Definately, Minnesota. Wheelers Point, MN, near the southeasternmost part of Lake of the Woods, is due north of part of Ontario.
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. And the only one you can get to by going south from California is Arizona.
AWB, do you realize that this is the second time today you’ve done this? That is, posted the same geographic info that I did earlier in the thread.
The other one was in the geographic anomalies thread. I was prepared to overlook it there, but twice is almost too much. Do it again and it’ll be considered enemy action. (Where’s that quote from? Something like “once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, thrice is enemy action”.)
Anyway, my map spells the island Saturna.