Alaska is the western-most AND eastern-most state!
Easternmost and westernmost points: The easternmost and westernmost points depend on whether you look at it from the global geographic perspective considering the longitudinal meridians, or just west=left, east=right.
The 180th meridian, (halfway around the world from the Prime Meridian at Greenwich, England) is the global dividing line between all eastern and western longitudes and happens to pass through Alaska's Aleutian Island chain. That means, when taking the global geographic perspective, Alaska has both the easternmost and westernmost spots in the entire country! The piece of land with the most westerly longitude is Amatignak Island at 179° 06' 31" west, just shy of the 180th meridian. Only 70 miles away, in a westerly direction but on the other side of the meridian, is Pochnoi Point on Semisopochnoi Island, with the most easterly longitude of 179° 46' east.
The chain continues in a westerly direction for approximately another 300 miles to Cape Wrangell on Attu Island, which is the farthest piece of land that one can travel to in a westerly direction in the state. If one is facing north and not considering the global longitudinal lines, this would be considered the farthest western point in the state. Looking to the right, to the east, and using the same criteria of not considering the global longitudinal lines, the farthest eastern point in the state is near Camp Point in southeastern Alaska.
And your point is. . .? :thinik:
Oh, I know! Alaskans don't know which way to go! :scratch: East? West? North? Do you all have south figured out? :idiot: LOL
Karen :nana:
(Being a crossword puzzle buff, Attu is one of my favorite clues!)