This is true? - Geographic oddities that defy conventional wisdom

[NWI_Irish96]

Two of the entirety of Vatican City would fit inside the 2.5 mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

[dvferyance]

Puerto Vallarta Mexico is in CST despite being on the Pacific Coast.

Your point is? That Mexico and Central America bend to the east? Chile is the same time zone as Atlantic Canada, despite being on the Pacific Ocean.

I know that it's just many would not think of that. Usually when they think Pacific coast they will think PST zone.

[hotdogPi]

Central America is well known for being thin and is obviously not three time zones apart from one side to the other.

[US 89]

That CST is year round though, so most of the time they're in line with US Mountain Time. Which they should be - they're almost exactly due south of Denver.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

The Lei Valley, an Italian valley draining to... the North Sea via the Rhine. The only part of Italy draining directly to the Atlantic, as opposed to the Mediterranean Sea or (in several small areas) the Black Sea via the Danube (also unexpected). It also contains a weird border, as Italy ceded some land to Switzerland so that they could build the dam.

[JayhawkCO]

Had a thought today as I drove to the mountains. The Eisenhower Tunnel is only 50 miles from Denver City limits. Feels like it should be farther.

[US 89]

Had a thought today as I drove to the mountains. The Eisenhower Tunnel is only 50 miles from Denver City limits. Feels like it should be farther.

It only feels farther because of the very reliable traffic along 70...

[JayhawkCO]

Fortunately not today leaving Denver at 4:00 PM.

[Poiponen13]

The southernmost point of Turkmenistan is further south than entire Continental Europe, and only islands of Greece (such as Crete), as well as Cyprus are further south.

[hotdogPi]

The southernmost point of Turkmenistan is further south than entire Continental Europe, and only islands of Greece (such as Crete), as well as Cyprus are further south.

I couldn't really place Turkmenistan on a map.

[Rothman]

The southernmost point of Turkmenistan is further south than entire Continental Europe, and only islands of Greece (such as Crete), as well as Cyprus are further south.

I couldn't really place Turkmenistan on a map.

That sounds like a you problem, not Turkmenistan's.

That said, the fact Poiponen pointed out is really not surprising.

[kphoger]

the fact Poiponen pointed out is really not surprising.

Agreed.  I hardly think conventional wisdom would say Spain reaches farther south than Turkmenistan.

Slightly more surprising might be that Iran reaches farther north than Lisbon, or something like that.  Even then...

[CNGL-Leudimin]

The southernmost point of Turkmenistan is further south than the 12 foot 4 (formerly 11 foot 8) bridge in Durham, North Carolina.

Reworded that , per this:

One I like: The 12 foot 4 (formerly 11 foot 8) bridge lies at about the same latitude as the Southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula. This also means the entirety of continental Europe lies North of the world-famous bridge (some Greek islands, such as Crete, lie further South).

Also, I should note that only parts of Crete and Cyprus are further South than the Southernmost point of Turkmenistan.

[Poiponen13]

the fact Poiponen pointed out is really not surprising.

Agreed.  I hardly think conventional wisdom would say Spain reaches farther south than Turkmenistan.

Slightly more surprising might be that Iran reaches farther north than Lisbon, or something like that.  Even then...

Turkmenistan is a Central Asian country with I was surprised to find that it reaches further south than entire Continental Europe.

[kphoger]

I was surprised

apparently

[Poiponen13]

I think Turkmenistan as a middle latitude country and Spain, Italy etc. a Southern country, so it is quite a surprise.

[kphoger]

I think Turkmenistan as a middle latitude country and Spain, Italy etc. a Southern country, so it is quite a surprise.

*shrug*  I think of Turkmenistan as the southernmost ex-SSR, dominated by desert, and Muslim-majority.  So it isn't a surprise.

[Rothman]

the fact Poiponen pointed out is really not surprising.

Agreed.  I hardly think conventional wisdom would say Spain reaches farther south than Turkmenistan.

Slightly more surprising might be that Iran reaches farther north than Lisbon, or something like that.  Even then...

Turkmenistan is a Central Asian country with I was surprised to find that it reaches further south than entire Continental Europe.

You have a singular point-of-view.

[Road Hog]

So the Amazon River divide forms most of the northern boundary of Brazil. Who knew.

[Chris]

Speaking of South America, the source of the Essequibo River was not established until 2018.

The forests are extremely dense in this region, far from developed infrastructure.

The Essequibo River is a fairly major river in South America, Wikipedia lists it as the world's 53rd largest river by average discharge, and one of the largest in South America that is not part of the Amazon basin.

[NWI_Irish96]

Ironwood, MI, has the same longitude as Clinton, IA, and St. Louis, MO.

[Rothman]

Ironwood, MI, has the same longitude as Clinton, IA, and St. Louis, MO.

Would have been better had it been latitude.

[Chris]

I took a trip to Northern Norway this month.

At Grense Jakobselv, you're actually farther east than Kyiv or Istanbul.

[Road Hog]

Looks like you're farther east than Finland, too, which is mind-blowing.

[tmthyvs]

Victoria BC is further east than the entirety of the Yukon and further north than St. Johns NL.