my and my friend were trying to figure out why our world geo. book said so.... why isnt maine? Please explain in GREAT detail.. thanks!
2006-11-09 09:55:54 · 0 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Up until relatively recently, one of the island chains belonging to the state of Alaska was technically on the other side of the International Date Line from the rest of the country. This meant that the islands were the furthest "east" someone could go (without crossing the date line), yet the state itself, generally speaking, was the furthest west land area of the political entity known as the United States of America.
The same thing happened with another small island group inthe south-central Pacific ... basically, one half of the country was on one side of the date line and the other half was on the other.
The date line was subsequently "jiggled", to keep those countries whose territories are in the vicinity of the date line to remain "on the same side".
Therefore, (from the US perspective) Alaska is - at present - the WESTERNMOST state, and Maine is the EASTERNMOST (neglecting the off-shore protectorates of Puerto Rico and Guam).
However, we ALSO need to look at how longitude is measured. "Eastward" occurs from the line of 0 longitude (approximately Greenwich England) and moves toward Europe and Asia. "Westward" occurs from the same starting point and moves west over the Atlantic and across North America. The line of longitude that is directly opposite from 0 would be 180 ... which happens to pass through Alaska. Thus Alaska could be both "eastern- and western-most"
2006-11-09 10:06:24 · answer #1 · answered by CanTexan 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Most Western State
2016-11-09 22:42:54 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alaska Easternmost State
2016-12-29 18:25:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you have a flat map alaska goes the western because it is out there on canada and on some map alaska is cut of and has to be put on the other side of the map were it is the most eastern
2006-11-11 00:23:00 · answer #4 · answered by pico 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
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yes the Aleutian Island chain crosses the international date line.
2016-03-27 02:01:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the lines of Longitude are at their narrowest at Alaska...
2006-11-09 10:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the shape of the earth
2006-11-09 09:59:07 · answer #7 · answered by todd s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋