15 Incredible US Geography Facts You Never Knew

The Easternmost and Westernmost State: Alaska

Alaska holds a unique geographical distinction as both the easternmost and westernmost state in the United States. This fascinating quirk stems from the Aleutian Islands, a long chain of volcanic islands extending from Alaska into the Pacific Ocean. These islands cross the 180th meridian, the imaginary line separating the Western and Eastern hemispheres. As some of the Aleutian Islands lie west of this line, Alaska technically exists in both hemispheres, making it the easternmost US state as well as the westernmost.

Maine: Closer to Africa than Florida

In a surprising geographical twist, Maine is actually closer to Africa than Florida. Specifically, the distance from Quoddy Head, Maine (the easternmost point of the United States) to El Aaiún, Morocco, is approximately 3,154 miles. In contrast, the distance from Miami, Florida, to the same point in Morocco is about 4,250 miles. This makes Maine closer to Africa by roughly 800 miles.

This unexpected fact is due to the Earth's curvature and the positioning of the continents. While Florida is situated much farther south and closer to the equator (which runs through the heart of Africa), Maine's location is much farther east. Additionally, Africa extends much farther north than many people realize. This geographical quirk highlights how the Earth's spherical shape can lead to counterintuitive results when comparing distances on a global scale.

The Population Divide: East vs. West

The population distribution of the United States is strikingly uneven. If we were to draw a line just west of San Antonio, Texas, approximately 80% of the country's population would live east of it, while only 20% would reside to the west. This stark divide reflects both historical patterns and geographical factors.

The eastern side of the country includes major urban centers like New York, Chicago, and Washington D.C. - areas that have been developed and densely populated since the colonial era. In contrast, the western US, despite containing large cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, is more sparsely populated. This is largely due to vast stretches of desert, mountains, and wilderness.

The West's harsh and rugged landscapes, such as the Rocky Mountains and deserts of the Southwest, have historically made large-scale settlement challenging. Even today, much of the land west of San Antonio consists of national parks, forests, and protected areas, contributing to the ongoing population imbalance.

Wyoming: More Cattle than People

Wyoming, known for its vast open spaces and rugged landscapes, is perhaps most notable for its extremely low population. In fact, Wyoming's population is so low that it actually has more cattle than people. With a human population of just over 580,000, it ranks as the least populous state in the US.

Meanwhile, the state's agricultural industry is dominated by cattle ranching, with roughly twice as many cows as people. Cattle grazing plays a significant role in Wyoming's economy, with beef being one of the state's key exports. This reflects a broader trend in many western states, where large stretches of land are devoted to ranching and population densities remain very low.

The Longest International Border: US-Canada

Stretching approximately 5,525 miles, the longest international border in the world is between the United States and Canada. This immense boundary runs from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific in the west, crossing diverse landscapes such as the Great Lakes, prairies, forests, and mountains. It also includes the border between Alaska and Canada, which alone spans over 1,500 miles.

Despite its length, the US-Canada border is known for being relatively peaceful and unfortified, in stark contrast to many other international boundaries. Both countries maintain a healthy relationship, and their shared border facilitates extensive trade and cultural exchange.

Additionally, the two countries have various agreements to manage their border, including the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement, as well as various partnerships for national parks that straddle the boundary.

The Great Lakes: A Freshwater Marvel

The Great Lakes - Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario - are a global freshwater treasure, holding about 21% of all surface freshwater on Earth. These five interconnected lakes contain over six quadrillion gallons of water, providing drinking water for over 40 million people in the US and Canada.

Formed by retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age, the Great Lakes span more than 94,000 square miles and are vital to North America's ecology and economy. Together, they support a vast array of fish and wildlife and serve as important trade routes, with shipping channels connecting the heartland of North America to the Atlantic Ocean in both the east and south.

Today, the Great Lakes' water is protected by the Great Lakes Compact, a legally binding interstate agreement between Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Colorado's Not-So-Straight Borders

Colorado is known for its rectangular shape, but its real borders are not as straight as they appear on maps. When Colorado was created in 1876, its borders were meant to follow specific lines of latitude and longitude. However, the tools used for surveying in the 19th century were not as precise as modern GPS technology, leading to slight inaccuracies.

Over time, as more accurate surveys have been conducted, minor corrections have been made to the state's boundaries. These changes are mostly imperceptible to the average person but demonstrate how geography and human technology can influence the way we define political borders. The same phenomenon can be found in other states with supposedly straight borders.

The Largest US Rainforest: Tongass National Forest

Surprisingly, the largest rainforest in the United States isn't located in Hawaii or Florida, but in Alaska. The Tongass National Forest, covering over 16.7 million acres, is the largest national forest in the country and is also a temperate rainforest. Located in Southeast Alaska, it forms part of the Pacific temperate rainforest, the largest remaining temperate rainforest in the world.

The Tongass is characterized by its dense old-growth forests of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and red cedar, along with a rich array of wildlife including bears, wolves, and salmon. The forest plays a crucial role in local ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and regulating the climate by absorbing carbon dioxide. It's also a vital resource for the indigenous communities who have lived in the region for thousands of years.

However, as with other rainforests, the Tongass is threatened by logging and climate change, sparking debates about conservation efforts.

Mount Whitney and Death Valley: Extremes in Proximity

In California, Mount Whitney and Death Valley are only 85 miles apart, yet they represent two of the most extreme points in the contiguous United States. Mount Whitney, standing at 14,505 feet, is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. In contrast, Badwater Basin in Death Valley, at 282 feet below sea level, is the lowest point.

This proximity between such extreme elevations is a result of the unique tectonic and erosional forces that shape California's landscape. Death Valley's basin formed due to the stretching and thinning of the Earth's crust, while Mount Whitney rose from tectonic collisions. Together, they highlight the dramatic geologic diversity of the state.

The Mississippi River Basin: A Vast Drainage System

The Mississippi River Basin is one of the largest drainage systems in the world, covering 1.2 million square miles and draining water from 41% of the United States. The basin spans 31 states and includes major rivers like the Missouri and Ohio, all flowing into the Mississippi River before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

This vast watershed is essential for agriculture, transportation, and freshwater resources in the US. The Mississippi River alone is about 2,340 miles long, making it the second-longest river in the country behind the Missouri River, a tributary of the Mississippi.

The river basin supports a variety of ecosystems, from wetlands and forests to prairies and mountains, and is home to millions of people and countless species of wildlife. However, the river system is also prone to flooding and faces significant environmental issues, such as pollution from agricultural runoff. Once these nutrients, vital for farming, end up in the Gulf, they feed algae which chokes off any other marine life present.

The Mississippi River's Backward Flow

In 1811 and 1812, a series of massive earthquakes in the central United States caused the Mississippi River to flow backward temporarily. The New Madrid earthquakes, as they became known, were so powerful that they caused ground subsidence, which forced the river to reverse its course in some places.

The shaking caused waterfalls to form in certain stretches of the river, and eyewitnesses reported seeing water moving upstream. This event is one of the most remarkable in US geologic history and demonstrates the power of tectonic forces even far away from active fault lines. Today, seismic activity in the New Madrid Seismic Zone still poses a risk to the region.

The Graveyard of the Pacific

The "Graveyard of the Pacific" is a treacherous stretch of coastline along the Pacific Northwest, particularly the waters around the Columbia River Bar, where more than 2,000 ships have met their fate. This notorious area stretches from Oregon's coast to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and is infamous for its dangerous weather conditions, strong currents, and shifting sandbars.

In fact, the Columbia Bar is one of the most hazardous river entrances in the world, where the powerful Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Extreme waves and shifting sand create perilous conditions that have claimed countless ships. This hazardous area has been a threat to ship captains for centuries, as stormy weather, dense fog, and sudden changes in water depth frequently cause vessels to run aground, capsize, or collide with hidden obstacles.

Efforts to mitigate these dangers have included the construction of lighthouses, jetties, and a highly skilled team of Columbia Bar Pilots who help guide ships safely across the bar. Despite these measures, the region's volatile nature continues to make it a dangerous area for navigation, maintaining its reputation as the Graveyard of the Pacific.

Mammoth Cave: The World's Longest Cave System

Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the longest cave system in the world, with over 400 miles of explored passages and potentially many more yet to be discovered. Mammoth Cave has a rich history, with indigenous peoples using the caves thousands of years ago and modern explorers continuing to map its vast network of tunnels.

The cave system is formed from limestone and shaped by the slow action of groundwater eroding the rock over millions of years. It contains a diverse array of subterranean ecosystems, including unique species of fish and bats. The cave's size and complexity make it a marvel of natural geology.

The Great Basin: America's Cold Desert

Unlike the hot deserts of the American Southwest, the Great Basin, located in Nevada and Utah, experiences cold winters, often with snowfall. However, as temperatures rise and precipitation patterns vary due to climate change, the desert's boundaries are slowly extending.

This expansion impacts local ecosystems, water resources, and agriculture. The Great Basin is already one of the driest areas in North America, and its growth highlights the broader environmental challenges of a warming planet.

Hawaii's Growing Landmass

Hawaii, specifically the Big Island, is the only US state that's physically growing. This is due to the ongoing volcanic activity of Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. When lava from Kilauea flows into the ocean, it cools and solidifies, adding new land to the island's coastline.

Over the past few decades, Kilauea has continuously erupted, increasing the island's size by hundreds of acres. The volcanic activity also shapes Hawaii's landscapes, from black sand beaches to towering lava cliffs. While the eruptions can be destructive to human settlements, they are also responsible for creating the fertile, lush landscapes that make Hawaii so unique.

Conclusion

The United States boasts a diverse and fascinating geography, from the unique positioning of Alaska to the growing landmass of Hawaii. These 15 incredible facts highlight the complexity and wonder of America's landscape, demonstrating how geological processes, human activity, and natural phenomena have shaped the country we know today.

From the vast Mississippi River Basin to the treacherous waters of the Pacific Northwest, from the underground marvels of Mammoth Cave to the extreme elevations of California, the US geography continues to surprise and captivate. As we face environmental challenges and changing landscapes, understanding these geographical features becomes increasingly important for conservation efforts and sustainable development.

Whether you're a geography enthusiast or simply curious about the world around you, these facts offer a glimpse into the remarkable diversity of the United States' natural landscape. They remind us of the power of nature, the impact of human activity, and the ongoing geological processes that continue to shape our world.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KrGAHE8O3Y&list=PLVWFCiwH8d383px73HnKNO95HkLeWlSEc&index=40