The westernmost point in the 50 United States is located in which state?

While many people might picture a state on the Pacific coast like Washington or California, the correct answer lies much farther north and is a matter of global geography. The key is the state's vast Aleutian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands that arc out from its mainland deep into the Bering Sea. These islands stretch for over a thousand miles, pushing the state's boundaries far beyond what many consider the edge of the North American continent.

This incredible island chain extends so far west that it actually crosses the 180-degree meridian of longitude. This line is the global marker that separates the Western Hemisphere from the Eastern Hemisphere. Because of this, several of the Aleutian Islands, including Semisopochnoi Island, are technically located in the Eastern Hemisphere, making them the westernmost points of the United States.

This unique geographical placement creates a fantastic piece of trivia. Because some of its territory lies in the Eastern Hemisphere, the state is simultaneously the country's westernmost, northernmost, and easternmost point. For those thinking of the mainland, the westernmost point in the contiguous 48 states is Cape Alava in Washington, but the Aleutians push the nation's boundary significantly farther across the globe.