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Latitude and Longitude of the United States
Geographic Coordinates and Extent
The United States covers a vast territory which extends across multiple latitudinal and longitudinal bands resulting in its varied climates and time zones and ecosystems. The contiguous United States covers the 48 adjacent states together with the District of Columbia within a geographic area spanning from 24.5° to 49.4° North latitude and from 66.9° to 124.8° West longitude. The national geographic area expands further when Alaska and Hawaii are included in the analysis. Point Barrow in Alaska represents the nation's northernmost point at 71.5° North latitude while the country extends west across the 180th meridian to reach 172.5° East longitude in the Aleutian Islands. The Pacific Ocean hosts Hawaii as it extends from 18.9° to 28.4° North latitude and from 154.8° to 178.2° West longitude.
Continental Boundaries and Extremes
The United States extends across 25 degrees of north-south latitude which corresponds to 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers). The northernmost point of the United States exists at Point Barrow Alaska (71°23′20″N) while Ka Lae (South Point) Hawaii marks the southernmost point at about 18°55′N. The southernmost tip of the contiguous United States exists at Key West in the Florida Keys which sits at approximately 24°33′N. The continental United States extends from West Quoddy Head Maine (66°57′W) in the east to Cape Alava Washington (124°44′W) in the west for more than 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers).
Implications for Time Zones and Climate
The United States extends across six main time zones which cover all 50 states because of its extensive east-west extent: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii-Aleutian. The extensive latitudinal extent of the country produces diverse climate zones that range from tropical southern Florida and Hawaii to arctic northern Alaska. The states located in the middle latitudes have temperate climates which produce substantial seasonal changes that affect agricultural production and human settlement and industrial activities. The position in relation to the equator determines the amount of daylight which varies between northern and southern states through longer summer days and darker winter months.
Geographic Center and Geodetic Reference
The geographic center of the contiguous United States exists in the area surrounding Lebanon, Kansas at 39°50′N latitude and 98°35′W longitude. The geographic center of all fifty states exists in Belle Fourche, South Dakota at 44°58′N, 103°46′W. The federal mapping and surveying reference point known as the geodetic center exists in Osborne County, Kansas. The centers serve essential functions in cartographic science and national infrastructure.
Significance in Mapping and Navigation
The United States extends across the Western Hemisphere while including parts of the Eastern Hemisphere through its Alaska territory which contains the Aleutian Islands. The country stands as one of the few nations which extends across the 180th meridian thus requiring special approaches to cartography and time management. The application of latitude and longitude coordinates serves as a basic requirement for GPS navigation systems as well as national defense operations and aviation and maritime activities. The precise geographic data enables federal land surveys and environmental management and emergency response systems to function with high accuracy.
