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Comment by eloff | Hacker News Reader

Here's another one: the majority of Canada's population actually lives south of the 49 parallel, which for the most part is the US border.

The reason is most of the population is in Ontario and Quebec, and the majority of that population is south of the 49th. The southernmost part of Canada at Niagara falls is actually at the same latitude as northern California. Which is why it is a big wine growing region.

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Your recollection is not quite correct here. The border between California and Oregon is at the 42nd parallel, while Niagara falls is at the 43rd. The southernmost part of Canada is Essex County, near Detroit, which does cross the 42nd parallel. The Niagara region is a big wine growing region primarily because of the moderating effect of the Great Lakes on the climate and the shelter provided by the Niagara escarpment.

As a native to the US west coast, I was very surprised to realize that Toronto, Ontario is further south than Portland, Oregon.

I always refer to my Toronto colleagues ( I am in Seattle ) as Southerners...

Distortions of the Mercator Projection...

I'm not sure how that would affect perceptions of relative latitude.

Here’s one of my favorites: What state in the US is closest to Africa?

That's a really good one (I googled the answer), never would have expected it.

Wow so I looked at a map: Portland, Oregon is north of Portland, Maine? Maine?! That is surprising.

And I was the nerd in high school pointing out Rome is north of NYC.

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