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

[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!

[fanf]

Wycombe is at the same latitude as the northern suburbs of London (e.g. Barnet, Edgware) but 40km to the west of the centre.

[zotz]

I'm very fond of pointing out that Edinburgh is not only west of London, but also west of Bristol.

I'm sure there's a Manchester in the States, so there still might be a sense in which it's so. Doesn't seem likely, though.

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

Last week we drove through/past both Manchester, PA, and Manchester, MD, so it is definitely so. Oh, and there's Manchester, SD, that I can personally vouch for, although that has a population of 15 so you may wish to discount it. ;-)