|by Sean O'Neill||United States Virgin Islands, Alaska, Questions and Opinions||33|
We recently posted that the easternmost part of the U.S. is Point Udall, St. Croix. But some readers wrote in to disagree. So we went to the official authority on the extent of U.S. geography.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says that
• The westernmost point is West Point of Amatignak Island, Alaska.
• The northernmost point is Point Barrow, Alaska.
• The southernmost point is the southern tip of the island of Hawaii.
• The easternmost point is Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi, Alaska, because it lies east of the 180-degree longitude.
But! It's really an "it depends" on what you mean by "easternmost," says Cindy Beidel, spokesperson for National Geographic Society.
Pochnoi Point, Semisopochnoi Island, Alaska (179°46'E)—easternmost point in all of U.S. territory, by longitude, or Point Udall, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (64°34'W)—easternmost point in all of U.S. territory, by direction of travel.
Thank you to readers Ray, Juelz, Leo, and Tom B. for weighing in.
The easternmost part of the U.S. is…Point Udall