The Continental Stretch: Uncovering the Width of the United States Of America
The United States of America is often perceived as a vast and expansive nation, but have you ever wondered just how long and wide it actually is? In this article, we will delve into the fascinating details of the country's width, exploring its geographical dimensions and providing an accurate measurement of this often-misunderstood aspect of American geography.
The United States of America spans an incredible distance of approximately 2,800 miles (4,500 km) from coast to coast. However, this width is not a fixed value, but rather changes depending on the method of measurement. Geographers and cartographers use different methods to determine the nation's width, resulting in varying estimates.
The Method of Measurement
Longitude-Based Measurement
One of the most widely used methods to determine the width of the United States is measuring the difference in longitude between the eastern and westernmost points. According to the National Geographic, the easternmost point is marked by West Quoddy Head, Maine, while the westernmost point is Cape Wrangell, Alaska. Using this method, the widest part of the United States spans approximately 2,695 miles (4,326 km).
On the other hand, the length of the contiguous United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, is around 2,394 miles (3,850 km) from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. The gaps in the middle, namely the Tri-State Route, railway that connects the southeast to the Midwest, underscore just how stretched the expansion is between Washington D.C. and Boston, Massachusetts and, Seattle, Maine.
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide, also known as the Western Continental Divide, is a key geographical feature that separates the western and eastern watersheds of the United States. This divide stretches approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 km) from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, following a rugged terrain of mountains and valleys. While the distance between the Continental Divide and the Atlantic Ocean can reach upwards of 1,500 miles (2,400 km), this split has created disparate ecosystems and landscapes across the United States.
Geographical Extremes
Longest Points of the Country
• Big Sur, California's Pacific coastline: stretches nearly 900 miles (1,450 km), most of it not inhabited even today
• No portion of Panama Massif line parting Mexico, Baja Californian river: featured differently blocked geographies.
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