Southernmost point buoy

The Southernmost point in the continental United States is claimed to be located in Key West, Florida, at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street.

The claim is not accurate. Florida's southernmost point during high tides is Ballast Key, a privately owned island just south and west of Key West. Signs on the island strictly prohibit unauthorized visitors. During low tides, several sand bars farther south than Ballast Key are exposed, the southernmost one of which is Sand Key.

Additionally, the point isn't even the southernmost point on the island of Key West. Land on the Truman Annex property just west-southwest of the buoy is the true southernmost point on the island, but it has no marker since it is U.S. Navy land and cannot be entered by civilian tourists. Also, the private yards directly to the east of the buoy and the beach areas of Truman Annex and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park all lie farther south than the buoy.

The claim on the buoy stating "90 miles to Cuba" is also inaccurate since Cuba, at its closest point is 98 statute (85 nautical) miles due south. [ [http://www.srh.weather.gov/data/www/html/eyw/HTML/staff.htm National Weather Service] ]

History

The Southernmost point was originally just marked with a sign, which was often stolen. In reponse to this, the city of Key West erected the now famous concrete buoy in 1983. [ [http://www.vacationrentalskeywest.com/keywesthistory.htm Key West History] ]

Today it is one of the most visited and photographed attractions in Key West. [ [http://search.cityguide.aol.com/southflorida/entertainment/southernmost-point/v-62419 AOL Cityguide] ] During the day there are usually several street vendors present selling various souveniers and conch shells. [ [http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2819092-southernmost_point_in_the_nation_key_west-i;_ylc=X3oDMTFka28zOGNuBF9TAzI3NjY2NzkEX3MDOTY5NTUzMjUEc2VjA3NzcC1kZXN0BHNsawN0aXRsZQ-- travel.yahoo.com] ]

The southernmost point in the arts and popular culture

*A subplot of Robert Tacoma's second novel, "Key Weirder"(2005), involves an interstate dispute over where the true southernmost point is located, and therefore, where the monument should be placed.

ee also

*Extreme points of the United States

References