Geography puzzle

[bonanova]

What are the

Northernmost,

Southernmost,

Easternmost and

Westernmost

states in the US?

[unreality]

magnetically or geographically?

[bonanova]

Geographically.

If the magnetic answer is different, include it for bonus credit.

[Guest]

does this count as a riddle?

[bonanova]

does this count as a riddle?

Maybe not. But it is a brain teaser of sorts.

Let's wait for the first-posted answer to find out.

[Guest]

Yeah, I'd consider it a teaser of sorts. I'm pretty sure I know the answer bonanova is looking for.

Does this mean anything?

Hint:

Aleutian Islands

[bonanova]

Yup, and this:

how far N E W and S can you go on earth?

[Guest]

Magnetic and Geographic answers are not different.

Nice one.

[bonanova]

We have some nice clues and observations.

Has anyone listed the states yet?

Extra credit for including the answer limiting

the question to the contiguous 48 states....

[Guest]

My guesses for all states

[*]Southermost: Hawaii[/*:m:30fdb]

[*]Easternmost: Alaska[/*:m:30fdb]

[*]Westernmost: Alaska[/*:m:30fdb]

My guesses for the 48 contiguous states

[*]Southermost: Florida[/*:m:30fdb]

[*]Easternmost: Maine[/*:m:30fdb]

[*]Westernmost: Washington[/*:m:30fdb]

[Guest]

All 50: This one I knew

Alaska is the Westernmost, Northernmost and Easternmost state. Hawaii is the Southernmost.

48: These I had to look up to be sure. I was wrong on northernmost.

Northernmost is Minnasota, which has a little part that extends beyond the 49th parallel.

Westernmost is Washington State with the Olympic Penninsula

Easternmost is easily Maine.

Southermost goes to Florida and the sunny keys.

[Guest]

My guesses for all states

[*]Southermost: Hawaii[/*:m:bb7e5]

[*]Easternmost: Alaska[/*:m:bb7e5]

[*]Westernmost: Alaska[/*:m:bb7e5]

My guesses for the 48 contiguous states

[*]Southermost: Florida[/*:m:bb7e5]

[*]Easternmost: Maine[/*:m:bb7e5]

[*]Westernmost: Washington[/*:m:bb7e5]

Hmm, guesses or googles?

[bonanova]

Martini contributed why the question is a brain teaser, and

Writersblock and cpotting contributed the states.

Let's tease the brain a bit more ....

E-most and W-most were stipulated as meaning Geographically,

referring to the 180th meridian, which cuts through the Aleutian Islands;

and, in the 2nd question, contiguous 48 states excluded AK and HI.

Now ... would the answers change for ...

[1] US defined as continental US - or -

[2] including US territories - or -

[3] E-most and W-most defined as earliest and latest sunrises?

If any of the results change, what would be the reason?

[Guest]

Hmm, guesses or googles?

Neither, just pretty good with geography. Friends sometimes laugh at me because I'll sit and read an atlas like others would read a book. Just always liked maps.

Here's a challenge for everyone: get a piece of paper and start writing out the names of all the countries you can think of (they must be independent sovereign states, not territories or protectorates). I managed to get 173 off the top of my head (though I must admit I was embarrassed to realise that I had missed 3 European countries - I knew them, but I just forgot to add them).

You can check you answers against this <page>. Only the bold non-italic entries on this page count. There are 194 listed.

[Guest]

Now ... would the answers change for ...

[1] US defined as continental US - or -

North: Alaska

South: Florida

East: Maine

West: Alaska

[2] including US territories - or -

North: Alaska

South: U.S. Samoa (assuming Antarctic bases don't count)

East: Alaska (still stretches further "east" than it's closest rival - Wake Island.

West: Alaska

[3] E-most and W-most defined as earliest and latest sunrises?

North: Alaska

South: Hawaii/Florida/U.S. Samoa - you did not elaborate on what constitutes the US in this case.

East: Alaska.

If you mean the earliest sunrise on a particular date, it would be Wake Island (assuming the broader sense of what is the U.S.). Though the well-known, but rare Alaskan Snow Rooster, in the Rat Islands, will crow before the Wake Island Sand Rooster crows, the Snow Rooster is actually crowing for the start of the day that the Sand Rooster crowed for 24 hours before.

West: Alaska

[bonanova]

What changes?

[1] Continental US

This eliminates the Aleutian Islands - not part of the mainland - so that those A.I. to the "left" of 180th meridian are no longer the Easternmost point. That would now be W Quoddy Head, ME.

The Westernmost point moves from the A.I. to the mainland at Cape of Prince Wales, but still in Alaska.

Southernmost point changes from HawaiI [50 states] or from Key West [contiguous 48 states] to Cape Sable, but still in FL.

[2] Earliest / Latest sunrise

This changes the demarcation line from the 180th meridian to the International Date Line. The difference is that whereas 180 is a straight line, the IDL has some zigs and zags that place all of the A.I. to its east; again, this changes the Easternmost point.

For continental US - W Quoddy Head, ME

[3] Including US TerritoriesFor the IDL demarcation, the Easternmost point moves to Wake Island, the Westernmost point becomes Guam, and the Southernmost point moves to American Samoa.