Within A Degree

Rank the following world cities, from the furthest north to the furthest south:

New York City, United States
Madrid, Spain
Istanbul, Turkey
Beijing, China

Answer: New York is 40° 42’ 52” north. Madrid is 40° 25’ north. Istanbul is 41° 0’ 19” north. Beijing is 39° 54’ 16” north. So the correct order is: Istanbul, New York, Madrid, Beijing.

Now, rank the following U.S. cities, from the furthest east to the furthest west:

New Orleans, Louisiana
Jackson, Mississippi
Memphis, Tennessee
St. Louis, Missouri

Answer: New Orleans is 90° 4’ 14” west. Jackson is 90° 11’ 6” west. Memphis is 90° 2’ 56” west. St. Louis is 90° 11’ 12” west. So the correct order is: Memphis, New Orleans, Jackson, St. Louis.

Which city is further west, Boston (United States) or Santiago (Chile)?

Answer: Boston is at 71° 3’ 35” west. Santiago is 70° 34’ west. Boston is to the west of Santiago.

Precise city locations were calculated using the locations given for each city by Google Earth.

Burt Likko

Pseudonymous Portlander. Homebrewer. Atheist. Recovering litigator. Recovering Republican. Recovering Catholic. Recovering divorcé. Recovering Former Editor-in-Chief of Ordinary Times. House Likko's Words: Scite Verum. Colite Iusticia. Vivere Con Gaudium.