Closest US State to Africa
The Americas are separated from the African continent and even from mainland Europe by the vast Atlantic Ocean. Considering the tilt of Earth on its axis it seems that the state of Florida is closest to Africa, but this is not true. In this article we will learn about the closest US state to Africa, farthest state and more.
Which US State is Closest to Africa?
It is the U.S. state of Maine, which is the closest point for the US to Africa. The distance between Quoddy Head in Maine and El Beddouza in the African country of Morocco is estimated to be about 3,154 miles (approximately 5,076 kilometers).
Quoddy Head is the easternmost point in the contiguous US. The Quoddy Head State Park is located about four miles off State Route 189 in Maine and is the first place in the country to witness the sunrise on the equinoxes. The Quoddy Head Light, the white and Red Lighthouse is a local attraction. El Beddouza in the northwest African country of Morocco is a sandy beach, that is, popular with tourists. The distance between these two points is the shortest between the US and the African continent.
The state of Florida is a peninsula that juts out of the contiguous US and is often (mistakenly) assumed to be the closest point to Africa. Singer Island on the coast of Palm Beach County, in Florida, is the nearest point to Africa. From Singer Island, Guerguerat in Africa is the closest point, about 4,085 miles (6,574 kilometers) away. Guerguerat is a village, three miles from the Atlantic coast in Western Africa.
Next Five Closest States to Africa
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Massachusetts
Massachusetts, particularly the southeastern part including Cape Cod, is relatively close to Africa. The shortest distance from Massachusetts to the northwest coast of Africa (around Morocco) is approximately 3,154 miles (5,075 kilometers).
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New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s seacoast, though small, lies near Massachusetts and Maine, making it one of the closer states to Africa. The distance from New Hampshire to the northwest coast of Africa is roughly 3,180 miles (5,117 kilometers).
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Connecticut
Connecticut, located south of Massachusetts, also has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The shortest distance from Connecticut to the northwest coast of Africa is about 3,230 miles (5,198 kilometers).
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Rhode Island
Rhode Island, the smallest state by area, is situated just south of Massachusetts and east of Connecticut. Its coastal location makes it relatively close to Africa, with an approximate distance of 3,243 miles (5,220 kilometers) to the northwest coast of Africa.
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New York
New York, specifically the southeastern part including Long Island, is also one of the closest states to Africa. The shortest distance from New York to the northwest coast of Africa is approximately 3,338 miles (5,372 kilometers).
Farthest State to Africa
Alaska, in the northwest corner of North America, is very far from Africa. The whole North Atlantic Ocean and the huge continents of Europe and Asia are in between. From the western coast of Alaska, near the Aleutian Islands, to the northwest coast of Africa, near Morocco, it’s about 9,300 miles (14,965 kilometers). From the easternmost part of Alaska, near Canada, it could be over 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers). This makes Alaska the farthest U.S. state from Africa.
In the contiguous U.S., Washington State, in the Pacific Northwest, is the farthest from Africa. The distance from Cape Flattery on Washington’s coast to northwest Africa, near Morocco, is about 7,200 miles (11,590 kilometers).
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