Geographic oddities - Page 26

ChiSoxRox · #**501** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:02 PM**

The highest peak in the Lower 48 is Mt. Whitney in California -- but the highest by prominence is Mt. Rainier.

Rainier wins by prominence as its key col (lowest pass to higher ground) is an 1160' pass near Vernon, BC, following the Columbia Divide to the Continental Divide.

Whitney's key col is 4420' amongst New Mexico salt flats, heading south along the Continental Divide towards the parent of Orizaba in Mexico.

Steely Dan · #**502** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:15 PM**

Trivia question: Which US state has the largest percentage of its total territory made up of water area?

Obvious answer: Hawaii.

Close, but Hawaii is technically only #2, by a hair.

#1 is less obvious.

Camelback · #**503** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj3000

I have to believe that that likely 90% of people who identify as Catholic are not really Catholic, in terms of ardently and correctly practicing the faith. They are not devout.

And if you are not a devout Catholic, you are not a Catholic. Period. That's what being Catholic is. There really is no such thing as a devout Catholic. It's Catholic... the devout part is understood. You cannot be half-way there... it's the full package or you're basically a fucking Protestant.

"Catholics" don't like to hear this, of course, but the faith cannot be massaged to one's preference/convenience without altering the faith.

I got a chuckle out of your post, I'm not sure if it was meant to be funny or if you're serious!

It's like saying "I'm a Christian. I just don't believe that Jesus is the son of God."

Camelback · #**504** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Trivia question: Which US state has the largest percentage of its total territory made up of water area?

Obvious answer: Hawaii.

Close, but Hawaii is technically only #2, by a hair.

#1 is less obvious.

Michigan?

iheartthed · #**505** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Trivia question: Which US state has the largest percentage of its total territory made up of water area?

Obvious answer: Hawaii.

Close, but Hawaii is technically only #2, by a hair.

#1 is less obvious.

I could see it being Michigan.

Steely Dan · #**506** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camelback

Michigan?

Yep. Because the great lakes are interior bodies of water, their jurisdiction doesn't fall under the rules of international waters, so the entirety of their surface area is included within the territories of the states and province that adjoin them.

As such, michigan is 41.5% water area, while Hawaii is 41.2%.

In terms of total water area, no state comes close to touching Alaska, but when it comes to the total area of just about anything, Alaska is always the extreme outlier among US states.

JManc · #**507** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Yep. Because the great lakes are interior bodies of water, their jurisdiction doesn't fall under the rules of international waters, so the entirety of their surface area is included within the territories of the states and province that adjoin them.

As such, michigan is 41.5% water area, while Hawaii is 41.2%.

In terms of total water area, no state comes close to touching Alaska, but when it comes to the total area of just about anything, Alaska is always the extreme outlier among US states.

Is that Lake Michigan only or all the Great Lakes? The former is totally within the US and the others shared with Canada. I've seen maps of Michigan with county/ state lines extending into Lake Michigan but none of New York for example.

As for Alaska, they have more coastline than the rest of the US combined.

Camelback · #**508** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Yep. Because the great lakes are interior bodies of water, their jurisdiction doesn't fall under the rules of international waters, so the entirety of their surface area is included within the territories of the states and province that adjoin them.

As such, michigan is 41.5% water area, while Hawaii is 41.2%.

In terms of total water area, no state comes close to touching Alaska, but when it comes to the total area of just about anything, Alaska is always the extreme outlier among US states.

My gut wanted to say Florida with the keys and Alaska with the Aleutian Islands, but then I thought of the upper peninsula and then the mitten and was like, yep it has to be MI.

Steely Dan · #**509** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JManc

Is that Lake Michigan only or all the Great Lakes?

All 5 great lakes are divided up among the 8 US states and 1 Canadian province that adjoin them.

NYS contains almost half of lake Ontario and a small corner of lake erie, which is more great lakes water area than PA, OH, IN, IL, and MN. only ON, MI, and WI have more great lakes water area than NYS.

Source: https://project.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/watershed.html

Camelback · #**510** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj3000

And speaking of thy Holiest Name… I will take the sacrament of a Pizza Lunch today.

Praise to you, Lord Cheesus Crust.

I'm not allowed to eat pizza by the boss of the home unless I sneak around, pay cash to avoid the CC paper trail and then lie about what I ate for lunch, it's almost like having an affair, without having any personal knowledge of what it's like to have an affair.

Steely Dan · #**511** Posted **May 6, 2021, 8:52 PM**

^ Pizza be with you!

LosAngelesSportsFan · #**512** Posted **May 6, 2021, 9:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

Trivia question: Which US state has the largest percentage of its total territory made up of water area?

Obvious answer: Hawaii.

Close, but Hawaii is technically only #2, by a hair.

#1 is less obvious.

Florida? Alaska? California?

kingkirbythe.... · #**513** Posted **May 6, 2021, 10:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camelback

It's like saying "I'm a Christian. I just don't believe that Jesus is the son of God."

Like the Cathars?

craigs · #**514** Posted **May 7, 2021, 1:04 AM**

I know it's time to move beyond the catholic/cultural catholic thing, so I'll just quickly note that one guy declaring that, in order to be a true Catholic, one must be completely orthodox in every command, belief, action, and observance while a bunch of others argue otherwise is the most Catholic thing ever.

Which state has the least amount of water area, by percent? I don't know the answer, just asking if anyone does.

Steely Dan · #**515** Posted **May 7, 2021, 1:09 AM**

^ according to one source, the top 3 least watery states are not surprising:

1. New Mexico - 0.2% water
2. Arizona - 0.3% water
3. Colorado - 0.4% water

They don't call it "the desert southwest" for nothing.

Utah would probay there too were it not for great salt lake, which is not an inconsequential body of water.