This is true? - Geographic oddities that defy conventional wisdom

[kphoger]

It should be obvious that "Mainland" Michigan is the part attached to Indiana Ohio

[NWI_Irish96]

It should be obvious that "Mainland" Michigan is the part attached to Indiana Ohio

That's only coincidental. Indiana is the longer border.

[Max Rockatansky]

Indiana and Ohio line up with the boring part of mainland Michigan.  Wisconsin has the entire border with the interesting part of mainland Michigan.

[GaryV]

The Michigan/Wisconsin border is about 2x the length of MI/IN.

[kphoger]

Anyhoo...  It surprised me to learn that mainland U.P. extends farther north than Maine.

[Max Rockatansky]

Anyhoo...  It surprised me to learn that mainland U.P. extends farther north than Maine.

Which happens to be on M-26.  M-26 IMO is in the discussion with M-22 for the most scenic State Trunkline.  That run the shore of Lake Superior is pretty nice.

[kphoger]

Here's one regarding how far north Europe is, compared to how we imagine it.

Mainland Finland extends less than 15 miles south of the 60th parallel, which forms the southern border of the Nunavut and the NWT and Yukon.

[JayhawkCO]

Here's one regarding how far north Europe is, compared to how we imagine it.

Mainland Finland extends less than 15 miles south of the 60th parallel, which forms the southern border of the Nunavut and the NWT and Yukon.

Does that include the lower peninsula of Finland? </sarcasm>

[Road Hog]

Here's one regarding how far north Europe is, compared to how we imagine it.

Mainland Finland extends less than 15 miles south of the 60th parallel, which forms the southern border of the Nunavut and the NWT and Yukon.

I don't have to imagine it. I lived it. I walked out of a club in Glasgow at 2 a.m. in summer and dawn was starting to break.

More of a stagger than a walk, but you get the idea.

[JayhawkCO]

The first letter of every state that borders Canada is only written with straight lines.

[kphoger]

The first letter of every state that borders Canada is only written with straight lines.

I see you're not counting the water boundary through Lake Erie.

[JayhawkCO]

The first letter of every state that borders Canada is only written with straight lines.

I see you're not counting the water boundary through Lake Erie.

Should have specified land borders. Or spelled it □hi□.

[kphoger]

Should have specified land borders. Or spelled it □hi□.

Also Fennsylvania.

[thenetwork]

I guess the old Acronym crossword clue of "The E of HOMES" (Erie) will now need to change to "The E of HAMES".

For those who don't know, it's an easy way to memorize the 5 Great Lakes.

[JayhawkCO]

I guess the old Acronym crossword clue of "The E of HOMES" (Erie) will now need to change to "The E of HAMES".

For those who don't know, it's an easy way to memorize the 5 Great Lakes.

As noted elsewhere, the easier mnemonic is SHAME.

[kphoger]

I learned 'Super- Man Helps Every- One', which is in geographical order from west to east.  If you're going to come up with a new mnemonic, then it also needs to be in geographical order.

[JayhawkCO]

82% of Italy's area is closer to the center of a national capital other than Rome.

[kphoger]

82% of Italy's area is closer to the center of a national capital other than Rome.

How can anywhere be closer to Vatican City than to Rome, when Vatican City is completely surrounded by Rome?

[NWI_Irish96]

82% of Italy's area is closer to the center of a national capital other than Rome.

How can anywhere be closer to Vatican City than to Rome, when Vatican City is completely surrounded by Rome?

My guess is that there using the specific building that's the seat of government and not the entire city.

[kphoger]

My guess is that there using the specific building that's the seat of government and not the entire city.

Yes, I suppose maybe that's it.

A fitting map for "Terrible Maps".

[JayhawkCO]

My guess is that there using the specific building that's the seat of government and not the entire city.

Yes, I suppose maybe that's it.

A fitting map for "Terrible Maps".

It's the center of the city, as noted in the heading. The Vatican is in the northwestern part of Rome.

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

West St. Paul, MN, is actually south of St. Paul

[vdeane]

82% of Italy's area is closer to the center of a national capital other than Rome.

I feel like that stat would be a lot less impressive if microstates were excluded.

[TheCatalyst31]

82% of Italy's area is closer to the center of a national capital other than Rome.

I feel like that stat would be a lot less impressive if microstates were excluded.

Especially when one of those microstates is entirely surrounded by Rome. Even if 8.4% of Italy is closer to the center of Vatican City than the center of Rome, the straightest line from there to the Vatican still goes through Rome.

[Road Hog]

Given the shape of Italy and the little no-account enclaves within it, not shocking.

The number of national capitals closer to Miami than Washington might be bigger.