Geographic Oddities and Quirks in the US

🗺️The US has several geographic oddities and quirks, including strange state shapes and unconventional geography.

🌍The two biggest earthquakes in the US outside of Alaska occurred in Missouri and South Carolina.

📍Central Nevada is an enormous area with very few people, comparable in size to entire states.

🚗Interstates 81 and 77 merge in southwestern Virginia, resulting in the unique situation of going north on one and south on the other.

🏢Virginia is the only state where cities and counties are separate jurisdictions, while San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, and Broomfield are city-counties.

What are some geographic oddities in the US?

—Some examples of geographic oddities in the US include the strange shape of Tennessee, the fact that Reno is further west than Los Angeles, and the discontinuous counties in Louisiana and Massachusetts.

Where were the biggest earthquakes in the US outside of Alaska?

—The two biggest earthquakes in the US outside of Alaska occurred in Missouri and South Carolina.

What is unique about central Nevada?

—Central Nevada is an enormous area with very few people, comparable in size to entire states such as Maine or South Carolina.

Why do Interstates 81 and 77 merge in southwestern Virginia?

—Interstates 81 and 77 merge in southwestern Virginia because they are going east-west at that particular stretch.

Are there any cities in the US that are separate from their counties?

—Yes, Virginia is the only state where cities and counties are separate jurisdictions. Additionally, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, and Broomfield are examples of city-counties.

00:00Introduction to geographic oddities and quirks in the US.

01:10Discussion about the strange shape of Tennessee and the geographical quirk between Bristol, Detroit, and Memphis.

03:23Explanation of the unique situation of driving south from Detroit to Canada and the highest and lowest points in the contiguous US being 85 miles apart.

05:06Comparison of San Diego and Deep South Texas in terms of latitude and longitude.

06:46Discussion about Reno being further west than Los Angeles and the naming oddity of West St. Paul.

08:25Explanation of the places in the US that can only be accessed by driving through Canada, such as the Northwest Angle in Minnesota and Point Roberts in Washington.

10:20Comparison of Norfolk County and St. Martin Parish, the two discontiguous counties in the US.

11:45Explanation of the unique city and county jurisdiction in Virginia, as well as the city-counties of San Francisco, Philadelphia, Denver, and Broomfield.

13:45Discussion about the population ranking of Toronto in comparison to US cities and the sign confusion on Interstates 81 and 77 in southwestern Virginia.

15:47Information about the biggest earthquakes in the US outside of Alaska and the vast empty area of central Nevada.

17:04Conclusion highlighting the unique and interesting geographical aspects of the US.