DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING?

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING?

So you think you know your way around the United States? Well, think again. What you “know” just might turn out to be false. To see what I mean, take this little quiz. Paper and pencil are not needed. Just start with question 1. Good luck!

1. Honolulu is the southernmost capital in the United States, but can you name the southernmost capital in the continental United States?
a. Tallahassee, FL. Go to No. 10
b. New Orleans, LA. Go to No. 7
C. Austin, TX. Go to No. 5

2. Not quite. The center of the country was in Smith County, Kansas, until Alaska and Hawaii joined the Union in 1959. That moved the midpoint to Butte County, South Dakota. Off you go to No 16.

3. In order: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Bye.

4. In 1776 the geographical midpoint of the United States was thought to be in either Maryland or Virginia (the uncertainty due to the crudeness of maps back then). Where is it now?

a. Kansas Go to No. 2
b. South Dakota Go to No. 9

5. Nice work! Actually Austin is only 11 miles farther south than Tallahassee. On to No. 4 and a question about the nation’s middle.

6. Which city in the contiguous United States is the largest? When you think you’ve got it, zip over to No. 14 for the answer.

7. Whoa! Bad start! New Orleans isn’t even a capital city. Apologize to the people of Louisiana, and then return to No. 1.

8. Including Alaska and Hawaii, the United States has over 12,000 miles of coastline. Not counting Alaska and Hawaii, the figure is just over 6000 miles. Which mainland coast is the longest?

a. Atlantic Go to No. 20
b. Pacific Go to No. 13
c. Gulf Go to No. 27

9. There you go. Butte County, South Dakota, has been the nation’s geographical center since 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the union. To be more precise, the midpoint is in a patch of prairie seven miles west of the town of Castle Rock. If you ignore Alaska and Hawaii, however, the midpoint remains in smith County, Kansas. Now off to No. 16.

10. Not quite. Actually, Tallahassee is a close second – only about 11 miles farther north than Austin. We’re pleased you didn’t choose New Orleans, which isn’t a capital at all. Now go to No. 4 for a question about America’s center.

11. Sorry. Consider, for starters, the Nile in Africa, the Amazon in South America, the Ob in what used to be the Soviet Union, and the Yellow in China. The longest river in the United States is the Mississippi-Missouri. Swim with the current for another try at No. 22.

12. Believe it or not, Jonesville is closer to eight other capitals than it is to Richmond. They are Indianapolis, Indiana; Columbus, Ohio; Charleston, West Virginia; Frankfort, Kentucky, Nashville, TN; Raleigh, NC; Columbia, SC; and Atlanta, GA. Now shoot over to No. 22.

13. Nope. Though California has 840 miles of coast, Washington and Oregon bring the total to only 1293. The Atlantic Coast stretches more than 2000 miles. Now switch from coastline to the double-yellow line as you try No. 15.

14. The largest city is Jacksonville. FL, at about 830 square miles – more than twice the area of New York City. (New York is still our most populous city, at 7.3 million. Sorry for the trick!) Now go to No. 8 for a question about the coastline.

15. You may already be able to name the three interstates that travel from the East to the West Coast: 1-10, 1-80 and 1-90. But can you identify the nation’s longest continuous road?
a. Route 66 Go to No. 26
b. Interstate 90 Go to No. 21
c. Interstate 5 Go to No. 17

16. The highest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls in Venezuela, drops 3212 feet, or almost twice as far as the highest waterfall in the United States – which is?
a. Ribbon Fall Go to No. 24
b. Honolulu Falls Go to No. 19

17. Whoops – you’re going the wrong way. Odd-numbered interstates go north and south, even-numbered ones east and west. 1-5 runs 1382 miles from San Diego, CA to Blaine, WA. Make a U-turn and go back to No. 15 again.

18. Did you say zero? That’s right. At 20,320 feet, Alaska’s Mt. McKinley is the tallest peak in the United States. But you’ll find more than 100 higher peaks in other countries, mostly in Asia and South America. Head over to No. 30.

19. Surely you jest. There is no such place as Honolulu Falls. Though Hawaii boasts some of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls, none is high enough to make even the top 40. Now return to No. 16.

20 “Shore” enough! The Atlantic coast runs 2069 miles from Maine to Florida. Fourteen states have Atlantic frontage, ranging from New Hampshire’s 13 miles to Florida’s 580. Now the line changes to double-yellow as you drive off to No. 15.

21. You got it. Interstate 90 runs almost 3100 miles from Seattle to Boston. If you could drive this northern route nonstop at 55 m.p.h., it would take 56 hours. Down the home stretch to No. 23.

22. Of the longest rivers in the world. How many flow through the United States?
a. One Go to No. 25
b. Nine Go to No. 11

23. Here’s one that few people will get. Jonesville, VA., is farther from its own state capitals of several other states. Can you name all of those capitals? See No. 12 when you’re done thinking.

24. Yup. Ribbon Fall, 1612 feet high, is where Ribbon Creek drops over the western edge of El Capitan into the Yosemite Valley in California. Now hop to No. 6.

25. Of course. And can you name it? Check no. 29.

26. Uh-oh. We see a detour for you. Route 66 is a legendary road – it was once the principal route from Chicago to Los Angeles – but today this famous two-laner has been supplanted by wider swifter interstates. Sad but true. Sadder still, you must return to No. 15.

27. Nah. The Gulf coast comes in second at 1631 miles. Most of that – 770 miles – belongs to Florida. Go back to No. 8 for another crack.

28. Imagine it’s your desire to scale the 100 highest peak in the world. Estimate the number of climbs you’ll be making in the United States and check No. 18 for the correct answer.

29. The longest river in the country is the Mississippi-Missouri, which traverses 3740 miles from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico. But even this is shorter than the Nile (4160 miles) and the Amazon (4080). Back up to No. 28.

30. Congratulations. You’re almost done. I hope you’ve enjoyed yourself and perhaps learned a thing or two along the way. Before you go, try one more question: Traveling along the southern border of the United States, you’ll pass through eight states. Beginning in Florida and heading west, how many can you name? See No. 3 for the answer.