US Geography Facts You Never Knew

Think you know U.S. geography? Get ready to be surprised! In this video, we're diving into 50 surprising facts about the United States that might just blow your mind. From where the Statue of Liberty actually stands to which state has the most islands (spoiler: it's not Hawaii), you'll discover some fun and unexpected truths about America! Let us know in the comments which fact surprised you the most!

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[howardhales]

I'm not from the US but these "facts I never knew" can be divided into two categories... 1- Yes, I did... and 2- That's not true.

[wyomingcowboy]

"There are only two Caribbean islands under US sovereignty". This is false. Puerto Rico is made up of a main island and a couple other inhabited islands. The US Virgin IslandS are multiple islands too... its literally plural.

[kbigdawg]

Several incorrect facts here. I will explain four of them:
1. You can walk from Alaska to Russia, that’s true. But, the blue line that is supposed to show the 2.4 mile stretch in the video goes from Big Diomede Island to the Siberian mainland. The actual 2.4 mile stretch is from Big Diomede Island in Russia to Little Diomede Island in Alaska. You can just barely see Little Diomede in the map shown in the video.
2. There are more than two Caribbean islands under US control. Puerto Rico has several smaller islands within its territorial jurisdiction (such as Mona Island, between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic). The US Virgin Islands (a plural name, even) contains the THREE main islands of St Croix, St John, and St Thomas, plus a number of smaller islands. There are also unorganized US territories, such as Navassa, in the Caribbean.
3. The Statue of Liberty is in New York. The island it’s on, Liberty Island, is an exclave of Manhattan surrounded entirely by New Jersey. The US Supreme Court case Central R. Co. of New Jersey v. Jersey City, 209 U.S. 473 (1908), confirmed that Liberty Island and Ellis Island are part of New York, despite being within New Jersey’s territorial waters.
4. The southernmost point in the USA (the country, not just the 50 states) is at Rose Atoll, in American Samoa.

[wardarcade]

7:47- The irony of Wyoming's state flag being dominated by a bison (or American buffalo) is that but, for the existence of Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park having expressly banned hunting within its borders from the time of its 1872 founding, bison would be completely extinct in the US due to the herds having been wiped out by hunting by the end of the 19th century. However, within the borders of Yellowstone National Park 40 bison survived in 1902 and it was from those 40 Yellowstone survivors that ALL current bison living in the US descend from.

[cfltheman]

That closest point between the US and Russia are the two Diomedies Island with Russia controlling the larger island and the US with the smaller.

[JV-pukx]

While New York might have been the first Capital, under the Constitution, Philadelphia was the first Capital. Don't forget the Articles of Confederation! Not to mention the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, and the period between the signing of the Declaration and when the Articles took effect. (Ed. spelling)

[wardarcade]

2:13- Actually Alaska's Little Diomede Island in the Bering Sea (which has a population of about 80) is only slightly more than two miles away from Big Diomede Island which is Russian territory. Hence, those 80 US citizens CAN see Russia on a regular basis (on non-foggy days) more easily than those folks the Cape Prince of Wales peninsula on the Alaska mainland trying to look across 50 miles of the Bering Sea to the Siberian mainland.
BTW, Little Diomede's population is mainly composed of Inuits as was the onetime Big Diomede's populace (and, yes, the two groups had family ties) until the then-Soviet government expelled the Big Diomede Island's inhabitants from their homes in the mid 1950s to avoid cross border contacts at the height of the Cold War and its been devoid of people ever since - apart from those sent to operate the current Russian weather station located there.

[KhaoticKalm]

Surprisingly knew quite a few of these from years of truck driving… you about made me fall over when you pointed out that I never realized Reno was west of L.A… trucker mind blown

[jacobbhancock]

I want to know who tf thought Orlando was the capital of Florida?

Edit to say that I also don’t like that folks in the Appalachians are being called hillbillies here. Damn.

[clasicradiolover]

You didn't show how Reno Nevada could be further west than Los Angeles

[nadzienka]

Great information! I knew some, but learned more.

[RickyMaveety]

Anyone who thinks Colorado is a square at the very least flunked geometry.

[martythestines]

5:50 I think many of these facts, need longer Not just this one, but this one in particular.🥰🤯

[jul]

The capital of the state of New Mexico, Santa Fe, is still officially named _La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Fransisco de Asis_ (The Royal Town of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis of Assisi).

[jstrahan]

10:40 Your red line is inaccurate. The line you depict goes to Siberia from Big Diomede Island, both in Russia. The little island just to the right of your line is Little Diomede island, which is in the United States. Also, for #1, the Statue of Liberty is in New York. Liberty Island is an exclave of New York surrounded by New Jersey.

[sgrant]

The Statue of Liberty is Legally Part of New York

The Statue of Liberty, one of the most iconic symbols of freedom and democracy, is legally part of New York. It stands tall on Liberty Island, which is a federal land under the jurisdiction of the state of New York.

[jimgreen]

Map Pack, this aft. I realized that I missed a point in my list of 5 hours ago. You stated that Little Diomede Is. in AK is only 2.3 mi./3.7 km away from Russia's mainland. That's the distance between its nearest neighbor--Big Diomede. The correct distance is around 30 mi./48km.

[dvongrad]

Perhaps not considered unknown US geography facts compared to the ones mentioned, but...

1. Point Roberts is connected to land via Canada but not to the contiguous US proper
2. Virginia extends farther west than West Virginia
3. One of the 40 towns/cities named Springfield is a state capital—that of Illinois

[matthewsecord]

You can't see 50 miles over water unless the mountains are gigantic.

[kcinbnavi]

I am from Nevada, and I have traveled through Death valley a few times. One venture, we came through a running race that stated at Bad Water, and sought to finish at Mt. Whitney, I am sure it took more than one day.