North America's Furthest West Atlantic Coast

North America's Furthest West Atlantic Coast 120830

A little recognized fact is that Amelia Island is further west than any other part of the Atlantic coastline of North America. Maybe you could say Cumberland Island just north of Amelia Island would get the prize. So, I will put a modifying adjective in there ... inhabited. Take a look at this Google map (copyright Google)



North America's Atlantic Coastline

See how the coastline right at the Florida-Georgia border is indented to the west. That's where Amelia Island is. Here is a closer map, also from Google.

Fernandina or Cumberland?

Okay, okay, Cumberland Island wins ... barely. BUT, no one lives there so with the "inhabited" added, Amelia takes the "-est" prize.

Want to go to the very spot and be further west than anyone in North America looking at the Atlantic Ocean? To do that we go back to Google maps and take a look at Amelia Island right at the curve. You can actually see the curve when you stand on the beach.

The Furthest West Point on the Coast

It's a little tough to eyeball exactly where the furthest west point is. Maybe a real map person or a surveyor can help us decide the specific spot. Until that happens I will go with my eyeball view which is right where Lewis Street goes to American Beach. You can drive to this spot by just following Lewis Street east until you hit the beach. You can sit in your car and see the Atlantic. On the Equinox days (September 21/22 and March 20/21) you will be the last person on the Atlantic coastline of North America to see the sun rise. Quite an honor I would say.

I think a marker should be placed at this spot and will contribute $100 to the person or group that makes this happen. There is in fact a marker already at this spot from a 1985 revetment project. I think a second marker here would fit.

Existing Plaque

-CR
Photos by RS