The world

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

Not long ago, we were having a conversation as to whether Boston or Manchester was more northern. Now, apart from the fact that Boston is in Lincolnshire, and thus clearly south of Manchester, I was confused by this.

I still am confused by this, and as I am a bear of very little brain, y'all will have to help.

According to Benedict's globe, and my Peters projection, and I can't find a handy Mercator projection, but I'm sure it's not that much different, according to those sources, the UK is north of all of the US except Alaska.

Is this wrong? Is there some other definition of north which I'm not taking into account?

Comments

[jaq.livejournal.com]

As a certain someone has pointed out to me, Boston MA is at the same latitude as the Mediterranean.

UK is north of all of the US except Alaska

[ewx.livejournal.com]

Sounds about right to me...

[silverfiligree.livejournal.com]

It seems odd because we're on the same parallel as the chillier bits of Canada, and we expect cold countries to be further north. Large continental masses are generally colder than islands, and we have a freak warm climate because of the Gulf Stream.

I remember the fuss about the dawn of the Millenium, when people were surprised that East Anglia wasn't the eastern-most part of the country. IIRC that point was somewhere near Dover. We get used to maps that tilt the UK upright.

I lived in High Wycombe for three years without realising it was to the North of London. I didn't do O level Geography, funnily enough!

[gnimmel.livejournal.com]

The UK is actually really quite far north compared to most countries. In Scotland in summer it's light nearly all night, for example. However we're in the path of the Gulf Stream and are also surrounded by water, so we have a much milder climate than places on a comparable latitude such as Canada and Siberia.

[olithered.livejournal.com]

You are indeed utterly correct. I was probably confused by the climate...

[sparrowsion]

Lincolnshire [...] clearly south of Manchester

Erm, why is that clear? (See, to my way of thinking, Licolnshire starts at the Wash and goes north, and the Wash is at much the same latitude as the Wirral, and hence Liverpool and Manchester.)