I appreciate that Geography King helps me learn so much about my own country. I've learned more about US geography through this channel than I did in school.
@@GeographyKingyou completely forgot saint John USVI which borders the BRITISH VI Guam which is the most common port visit for US Navy ships (served 6 years) Puerto Rico which is the biggest territory and has a rainforest and a dry forest all within a small overall area (home"state") American Samoa which its residents are American nationals rather than citizens (disgusting remnant of the insular cases) that island in hawaii that lies at 28N which makes it the northernmost shallow sea reef and that other Hawaiian island (part of the official 8, Lanokai??) And I guess 😅 Tangier Island in Virginia which unlike other small towns its not only losing population but also island area
My senior thesis in Architecture school was City Island in the Susquehanna river in Harrisburg, PA. I designed a convention center with a hotel and a marina with housing and an outdoor concert arena. I got an 'A'. It is an interesting island about 62 acres with and old pedestrian bridge intersecting it as well as a railroad bridge and an automobile bridge. It has great views of Harrisburg with one of the best state capitol buildings in the country. There is a minor league baseball stadium and soccer fields on the island now. I enjoyed your video!
Another more famous island in the Harrisburg area. Don't let it go to its head or it might have a meltdown. But Three Mile Island just down the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg. We all pretty much know what happened there.
@@robertwillhite9077 I lived in Valley Green, about a stones throw from Three Mile Island. We had a view of the cooling stacks from our back porch. I graduated from Red Land High School in 1977. I was not in PA when TMI almost melted down, but my parents were there and left before there was a potential evacuation. I always thought City Island had lots of potential, but alas, baseball and soccer fields are the best they could do.
I grew up in Harrisburg, graduating high school in 1983. I can remember City Island being used for public swimming- a relative was a lifeguard there and there was a large beach house facility. It was all inundated with hurricane Agnes in 1972, and never reopened. Anything built there has to be subject to the river.
One thing about the sunrise in Maine. That changes depending on time of year... Cadillac Mountain has the first sunrise during the low colder months, from late September to early March. In the warmer months, it's Mars Hill. For a short time around the equinoxes, it's West Quoddy Head which is quite a beautiful and wondrous peninsula......
Hmmm... I was curious about this and looked at it a bit... At least from what I'm seeing online, it appears that today (Dec 15,) Miami has an earlier sunrise than Cadillac Mountain by 2-3 minutes. I thought it seemed odd that the earlier sunrise would be so far North in the winter and it appears that it might not be for at least part of the winter, though I do see where the National Park Service's website says it is from Oct 7 to Mar 6. But their website also says it's the "first place in the country" to see the sunrise, which is objectively wrong for multiple reasons. The "first place in the country" would be somewhere around Guam (at least in the winter,) as it's on the other side of the International Date Line and would have sunrise many hours before anywhere along the East Coast. Ignoring the Pacific Basin, though, Puerto Rico would also be before either Maine or Florida in the winter. Most of Puerto Rico is even farther East than the Easternmost point of Maine and, of course, it's *much* farther South. Sunrise in San Juan today was well over an hour before Cadillac Mountain, for example. Perhaps this is true for purely the continental U.S. (or maybe even the 50 states?) but just from some quick searches, it appears that that may also not be correct near the winter solstice when daylight hours are significantly shorter that far North than in Southern Florida, even though Southern Florida is significantly farther West and also much lower elevation.
You might be interested in Tillamook Rock, one of the few islands off the coast of Oregon. It has a very famous lighthouse called "Terrible Tilly." It's actually for sale. Currently uninhabited.
Isn't that the lighthouse where people can have their cremated remains interred there? I was told there was a lighthouse with that service off the coast of Oregon.
Great video! One i would add is Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake. There is a herd of bison, as well as antelope deer, coyotes, and rarely, wolverines. Also, thousands of migratory birds, and its also an international dark sky park. Great place to camp and visit.
Antelope Island (really more like Antelope Peninsula now) is indeed a really interesting place. I'm surprised that it would be considered a Dark Sky park, though, considering how close it is to Salt Lake City. Parts of it are less than 10 miles from SLC airport and even the farthest parts are only slightly over 20 miles from the airport.
Isle Royale is actually the third-largest island in the contiguous US, as the second-largest island in the contiguous US is Padre Island which is the biggest of the Texas barrier islands at 209 square miles or 542 square km. Isle Royale on the other hand is 206 square miles or 534 square km. Padre Island is not only the largest of the Texas barrier islands, but also the world's longest barrier island! It was named after Father José Nicolás Ballí, a missionary priest who once owned the island and served as a collector of finances for all the churches in the Rio Grande Valley. Padre Island serves as an important nesting site for the Kemp's ridley sea turtle who primarily live in the Gulf of Mexico. I know you weren't gonna talk about Long Island, but Long Island has some interesting things on its own. The LIRR has more than 700 miles (1,100 km) of track, with the passenger railroad system totaling over 300 miles! The first time a man rode a bicycle for one mile in less than a minute actually happened on the LIRR's Central Branch, when Charles Minthorn Murphy performed this feat in 1899 by drafting behind a LIRR passenger car. The Montauk Point Lighthouse was the very first public works project of the US government, as it was authorized in 1792 by George Washington himself! Shinnecock Hills by Southampton is the oldest incorporated golf club in the US as the club has been around since 1891!
I'm disappointed you didn't mention Whidbey Island, mainly because it's where I grew up. It's home of Deception Pass State Park in Washington, the most visited state park in the State of Washington.
Thanks for this! I second your request. Fort Casey, Useless Bay, NAS Oak Harbor, the Deception Pass bridge … Rhododendrons and pig wars … there’s such a great variety of geography and history!
Whitney Island Washington needs to be considered for one of your segments. It has a very interesting history a long with the nearby San Juan Islands. I've really enjoyed what you have done so far
Geography king is a true prince, love all the fascinating stuff we always learn from you, and your dry humor you sprinkle in always make the videos that much more enjoyable.
Loved this one! I grew up on the mainland UP directly across from Washington Island and could see its shoreline across Green Bay (the water body, not the city). Then I went to school at Michigan Tech, and my Mammalogy professor was the one running the Isle Royale wolf-moose-spruce study, which has been ongoing since the 60s or 70s and is the longest continuous biological study.
Hello Geoffrey, I'm John in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. I stumbled across your channel about 15 Interesting U.S. Islands. I love geography and was totally absorbed by this video. I love the research you put into your subject and your presentation. You talked to me, not at me. Therefore I felt totally relaxed as I Followed along. I have subscribed and look forward to many more outings with you. Keep safe and well, and keep up the great productions.
You missed Fannette Island in Lake Tahoe. It's the only island in the whole lake and is located in the Emerald Bay section of the lake, which is one of the most beautiful of a very beautiful lake. My favorite lake in the US!
I feel like orcas island, Catalina Island, mackinac island, south bass island, antelope Island, angel island, and bush key all deserve some attention. Also Hawaii Island is pretty interesting completely on its own.
Santa Catalina is a fascinating place, both because of its history with the local tribes but also in the 1900s when it was wholly owned by Wrigley, hosted spring training for the Cubs, and how it was given over to the City of Los Angeles by the Wrigley's. And it's a blast of a tourist island now.
Next installment I suggest Sauvie Island in the Columbia River just north of Portland, created by the confluence with the Willamette. Half farms and scattered residential protected from intense development by Oregon land use laws, half a riparian forest and bird sanctuary. One of my favorite places in Earth.
Very nice. Thank you. (I always am pleased when I receive a notification of one of your productions. Always very informative and professionally presented.)
was not surprised to see cumberland island on here had the chance to jet ski into its interior and have seen the horses plenty of times. amelia island, the island directly south of cumberland is arguably even more interesting as it has a rich pirate history, as well as having 7 different groups own the island at a point in time. i recommend looking into fire island in new york as well super cool place that doesn’t even feel like you’re in new york.
Other notable interesting islands in the US WEST... Catalina Island CA (wildlife), San Juan Island WA (pig war), Canoe (or Pass) Island WA (bridge + deception), Campbell Island in Campbell Lake on Fidelgo Island WA (larger than most Island on islands). Whidbey Island WA (skinny), Alcatraz Island CA (prision), Govener Island OR (airport), Mercer Isalnd WA (suburban).
Avery Island was named after the Avery family, who settled there in the 1860s. Petite Anse Island, renamed Avery Island in the late 19th century, was purchased by John Craig Marsh of New Jersey in 1818. His daughter, Sarah Craig Marsh, married Daniel Dudley Avery in 1837, thus uniting the Marsh and Avery families. Before the Civil War, Edmund McIlhenny joined the Avery family, by marrying Mary Eliza Avery, daughter of Daniel Dudley Avery and Sarah Marsh Avery. According to the Tabasco company, Tabasco was first produced by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868, but there's more to it than that. The story actually begins in the pre-Civil War era with a New Orleans plantation owner named Maunsel White, who was famous for the food served at his sumptuous dinner parties. He drew inspiration from European, Caribbean, and Cajun sources. But one of his favorite sauces was of his own devising, made from the Tabasco chili. White added it to various dishes and bottled it for his guests. Although the McIlhennys have tried to dismiss the possibility, it seems clear now that in 1849, a full two decades before Edmund McIlhenny professed to discover the Tabasco pepper, White was already growing Tabasco chilies on his plantation. An interesting fact is that Tabasco is one of the few US companies to be granted a Royal Warrant that certified it as a supplier to the British monarch by Elizabeth II in 2009. Elizabeth II's love of Tabasco was thanks to her mother, who during WWII sent her staff to scourge London for it!
Great video- I always love the Great Lakes representation! If there’s a part 2, I would like to nominate Mackinac Island in Michigan and Belle Isle in Richmond, VA. Both have super interesting histories.
Cool vid idea, Kyle Honorable mentions from my end: Tangier Island, VA Smith Island, MD Hatteras Island, NC Dry Tortugas, FL And many of the untouched islands off the Virginia Eastern Shore Peninsula
In a future video, consider looking at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. It has a lot of interesting history. It was considered the Ellis Island of the west because it was a processing/detention for Asian immigrants.
How about Howland Island, Baker Island, Jarvis Island, and Johnston Atoll? Tiny, on the equator, and about as far from anywhere that it is possible to be. That's why I find them interesting.
You outdid yourself on this, Kyle. Interesting information non-stop from start to finish! Maybe it appealed to me because I grew up on an island off a bigger island...
Ocracoke Island, NC would definitely warrant a mention in your next video. Ferry access only, locals with a very distinct dialect, wild horses, and the ghost of Blackbeard!
Excellent video as always. There's something a big mystical about islands that's hard to describe. One thing about Mt. Desert Island: I've spent a good bit of time in the area and I've often heard locals pronounce Desert like "Dessert" despite there only being one S.
@interstate543 You are correct; it is pronounced like the word "dessert" (/dɪˈzɜːrt/ dih-ZURT). The name is not from the English word "desert" meaning "arid landscape" ( the coast of Maine is not arid), but from the French name "L’Isle des Monts-déserts" (meaning "island of barren mountains"). While this use is not common, in English the word "desert" (with the stress on the second syllable) can be an adjective meaning barren (that is, desert[ed]); that is the sense used for this Island's name.
There’s another Rock Island just off the coast of Washington Island, WI that was once owned by a Chicago businessman with Icelandic heritage, and he built several buildings using the stones on the island as a summer retreat.
@@gb-fs1tzNeither can compete with the beauty of rock island illinois and that's from a completely unbiased source and not a proud native of rock island illinoiz
For anyone curious about St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait, RUclipsr Peter Santenello visited there and published a series of three or four long videos. You really get a feel of the island and its people and what life is like there.
Cool vid, as usual! One thing: I was surprised that you didn’t mention the wild horses that live on Cumberland Island, even though you pictured them. They are definitely one of its major draws.
FORT DESOTO IS AWESOME! beautiful beaches, significant historical features you can explore, dog park, boat ramps, hiking trails. Good fishing, bikinis. Spectacular sunsets and warm rain thunderstorms. I love it there!
The Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior is actually an island as the Portage canal made it an Island. The Portage canal lift bridge (US 41) connects it to the upper peninsula of Michigan. It is a great place to visit.
Great video! The mention of a couple of Great Lakes islands in particular gets me thinking - you should do a collaboration with Lost Lakes on a video or two. You two could talk about your travels, or ask each other a set of questions, or you could interview him about Canadian rivers and lakes. I think you both give off a similar relaxed but competent and professional vibe that works well!
I absolutely love beaver island. Loved it so much I bought a few acres. In my opinion Michigan is probably the prettiest state in the 48 continental. Beaver island definitely has a unique history and some of the nicest people.
Block Island is absolutely gorgeous! The stairs are a famous "instagram spot" kinda like that street in Dumbo in NYC or the Nashville wing mural. Also many of Rhode Island's other islands are gorgeous too such as the famous Newport or Jamestown, a quieter island just West of Newport. Jamestown has these old abandoned WWII artillery fort named Ft. Wetherill that is super cool and I highly recommend.
Quite nice seeing Kent Island chosen. I remember going from SE DC to Chincoteague VA & going over the Bay Bridge. Scary as hell! And seriously, are you snitching my record collection? Keep 'em coming, Kyle.
Another interesting one is Assateague Island. It’s split between two states, Maryland and Virginia, and two national wildlife refuges, Assateague and Chincoteague, plus has a population of roaming wild horses.
GREAT VIDEO KYLE!!! If you do another video on cool islands, you should mention Nicollet Island in Minneapolis, MN.... which is actually where DeLaSalle High School is located basically in the heart of the city!!
Cool video, another interesting island is Tangier Island. I do think it might be well known to geography nerds though, but I think the fact that the people that live there have a very distinct accent is pretty unique. It also might disappear in the next few decades and force their very loyal population off the island which is pretty sad to hear
on isle royal, i remember leaning about it in 6th grade science with the wolf study! taught us a lot about the balance of predators and prey, and how even tho predators seem like a bad thing they’re very important to ecosystems :)
Ah I am so glad you mentioned Beaver Island, I accidentally became super interested in it when I was looking for islands in the great lakes for tabletop Worldbuilding locations to put my players in & now we all want to vacation there sometime lol
It’s a beautiful place. Found out about it 12 years ago and it always stayed in the back of my head. Made my first trip there in 2021. I loved it so much I bought 6 acres. You should definitely visit this unique and amazing place.
Enjoyed the video and learned a few things I didn't know. I would love to see you cover Tangier Island in a few episode. Tons of interesting things about the island/town.
We used to spend a lot of time at Ft DeSoto park when we lived in Pinellas County. We watched them build the new Sunshine Skyway bridge from its beach.
I wish you mentioned long beach island in new jersey. i dont think there is another island in north america as long and skinny but also as highly developed. people flock there from all over the nyc and philly metros and its great for fishing and surfing. same with kiawah island south carolina because its home to one of the coolest golf courses i have ever seen. runs right up along the beach and marshes and the whole area is absolutely infested with gators, even moreso then places like orlando. It has hosted the pga tour before and likely will again.
Yours is the only geography channel I ever watch because I like the same nerdy things you do like trivia, currency and being on an island in a lake on and island in a lake 😅 Another geographical feature that fascinates me is river origins, or even just rivers in general. How about a video on that?
Great video! Some other islands with interesting backstories include Hart Island, New York City's potter's field, and Plum Island off the coast of Long Island, which has an infectious disease laboratory on it.
Many years ago, I was friends with a lady who's family homesteaded, and still owned Shelter Is. in Flathead Lake, in Montana. They originally grew cherries on the island, and there were still a few trees remaining. It was one of my favorite places, with just 2 small, old cabins and a rickety boat dock. It seems the family has since sold the 25 acre island, and now, there is a huge, ugly English mansion, and lots of pavement, and landscaping. What a heartbreaking thing to happen to that tiny slice of heaven!
I visited Avery Island in 1994. It sounds like they’ve expanded their offerings in the past 30 years. I recall just a Tabasco tour and a magnificent lookout platform for observing the birdlife.
There's a really nice movie from 2009 called City Island. Free streaming on a few major sites. Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies lead a blue collar life on this island off Bronx, NY.
There’s so many islands in the Puget sound, and off the coast of California that would’ve been interesting to examine as well. This was very interesting though I’ve never heard of some of these! Do a part two!
This is just a suggestion, but a video about the various mountains and mountain ranges in North America and their unique features would be interesting. I love mountains. Also, maybe a series of videos explaining how geographers define common geographic features would be interesting. As a example, when deciding the difference between a mountain and a hill, prominence is usually the deciding factor, or how the difference between a butte and a mesa is decided by the ratio of width to height. I appreciate your videos. Keep them coming.
Now look, obviously i watched the video because i knew you were gonna drop some sweet island knowledge, but really you got some great taste in music, and i'm kinda here to see what's on display so i can dig it. Emmylou's voice is *chefs kiss*
Great video! Fun way to wake up in the morning with some coffee, at least for me. Islands are fascinating to begin with, especially the ones within rivers, and the Great Lakes.
On the last one, Texas A&M on the island being the only college campus on an island, I always found it so disappointing that CSU Channel Islands isn't actually on the Channel Island but is decently far inland in Camarillo instead. Also USC has a satellite campus on Catalina Island but it's only for marine science students and they can only stay for 2 semesters
I loved this video. There's now a new list of places I want to visit. However, I'm surprised you didn't mention Padre Island, it's got an interesting history, and it's the longest barrier island in the world.
Love your take on geography. I always learn something from your episodes. Might I suggest a list of the largest islands in each state? Or, the most famous island. Some states might be obvious but others not so much...
Very interesting! I especially appreciate two entries from my home state of Michigan. I would also recommend another Michigan island for a future episode - Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. Best known for fudge and its prohibition of automobiles, this island was actually the nation’s second national park after Yellowstone.
Glad to see Mt Desert on your list. I grew up there , in Hulls Cove (3 miles from Bar Harbor). BTW, it is pronounced desert as in the final course of a meal, not as an arid region. It also has the only true fjord (Somes Sound) in the continental US.
The Hudson River is actually the only true fjord in the eastern US. There are also a couple fjords in Washington (and several more in Alaska). I think you're mistaken about Somes Sound.
isle royale is one of my favorite places of all time. its been a few years since i last visited, but the hiking is unmatched without being too difficult and the catch and release lakes found within have loads of trout and walleye
So glad to see Kent Island. I bought a house there in 1990 and lived there for 30 years until 2020 when I moved to WA so my wife could be closer to her family. It is a wonderful place to live but the Ocean City traffic is a killer.
Maclellan island is pretty cool, we went out there on a field trip in elementary school. Williams island behind Baylor is pretty neat too. Great video! I want to go visit some of those islands in the Great Lakes
B- on the accent, which is kinda high coming from a local. 😁 That’s called a a good job. You did catch a whiff of the Downeast dialect, and you must have practiced a little cos you didn’t do Boston! Very glad MDI was on the list! Missed facts: 2nd largest Atlantic island (only behind LI, NY); 6th largest in the continental U.S.; Cadillac Mtn. highest Eastern coastal point north of Rio de Janeiro.
If you do another “island” edition, include a couple of the Great Salt Lake islands. Antelope and Fremont are especially interesting. Love your videos!
So much to learn here, thank you, GeoKing! The only island you mentioned that I’ve seen is the one in Crater Lake. The whole area is gorgeous! My favorite island is Whidbey Island in Washington State. I also like Alcatraz, but maybe more because of the views you get when on the island. Have you considered making a video about “Points” or Capes? I mean places that jut out, like Point Lobos, Point Reyes, California, Cape Flattery, Disappointment, WA, Capes Foulweather and Perpetua, Oregon. Oh gosh, what a job. Too many just on the West Coast alone!
I appreciate that Geography King helps me learn so much about my own country. I've learned more about US geography through this channel than I did in school.
I have also ! I agree w you💯👍
That's on you though.
@@Ryfaelno that’s on the us education system for giving minimal content focus on geography
Realistically, there is no reason why any of these islands would be taught about in school.
@@0Architectdude0 I got a great education on geography in that system. Sucks for those who didn't.
As a huge geography nerd, you are one of the few channels where I always know I'm gonna learn something new.
Thank you! That means a lot
Agreed!!
@@beatriceroosmark , ditto for me!
@@GeographyKingyou completely forgot saint John USVI which borders the BRITISH VI Guam which is the most common port visit for US Navy ships (served 6 years) Puerto Rico which is the biggest territory and has a rainforest and a dry forest all within a small overall area (home"state") American Samoa which its residents are American nationals rather than citizens (disgusting remnant of the insular cases) that island in hawaii that lies at 28N which makes it the northernmost shallow sea reef and that other Hawaiian island (part of the official 8, Lanokai??) And I guess 😅 Tangier Island in Virginia which unlike other small towns its not only losing population but also island area
My senior thesis in Architecture school was City Island in the Susquehanna river in Harrisburg, PA. I designed a convention center with a hotel and a marina with housing and an outdoor concert arena. I got an 'A'. It is an interesting island about 62 acres with and old pedestrian bridge intersecting it as well as a railroad bridge and an automobile bridge. It has great views of Harrisburg with one of the best state capitol buildings in the country. There is a minor league baseball stadium and soccer fields on the island now. I enjoyed your video!
Sounds like a fun project
Another more famous island in the Harrisburg area. Don't let it go to its head or it might have a meltdown. But Three Mile Island just down the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg. We all pretty much know what happened there.
@@robertwillhite9077 I lived in Valley Green, about a stones throw from Three Mile Island. We had a view of the cooling stacks from our back porch. I graduated from Red Land High School in 1977. I was not in PA when TMI almost melted down, but my parents were there and left before there was a potential evacuation. I always thought City Island had lots of potential, but alas, baseball and soccer fields are the best they could do.
I grew up in Harrisburg, graduating high school in 1983. I can remember City Island being used for public swimming- a relative was a lifeguard there and there was a large beach house facility. It was all inundated with hurricane Agnes in 1972, and never reopened. Anything built there has to be subject to the river.
One thing about the sunrise in Maine. That changes depending on time of year... Cadillac Mountain has the first sunrise during the low colder months, from late September to early March. In the warmer months, it's Mars Hill. For a short time around the equinoxes, it's West Quoddy Head which is quite a beautiful and wondrous peninsula......
Thanks for that bit of trivia!
Hmmm... I was curious about this and looked at it a bit... At least from what I'm seeing online, it appears that today (Dec 15,) Miami has an earlier sunrise than Cadillac Mountain by 2-3 minutes. I thought it seemed odd that the earlier sunrise would be so far North in the winter and it appears that it might not be for at least part of the winter, though I do see where the National Park Service's website says it is from Oct 7 to Mar 6. But their website also says it's the "first place in the country" to see the sunrise, which is objectively wrong for multiple reasons. The "first place in the country" would be somewhere around Guam (at least in the winter,) as it's on the other side of the International Date Line and would have sunrise many hours before anywhere along the East Coast. Ignoring the Pacific Basin, though, Puerto Rico would also be before either Maine or Florida in the winter. Most of Puerto Rico is even farther East than the Easternmost point of Maine and, of course, it's *much* farther South. Sunrise in San Juan today was well over an hour before Cadillac Mountain, for example.
Perhaps this is true for purely the continental U.S. (or maybe even the 50 states?) but just from some quick searches, it appears that that may also not be correct near the winter solstice when daylight hours are significantly shorter that far North than in Southern Florida, even though Southern Florida is significantly farther West and also much lower elevation.
You might be interested in Tillamook Rock, one of the few islands off the coast of Oregon. It has a very famous lighthouse called "Terrible Tilly." It's actually for sale. Currently uninhabited.
Isn't that the lighthouse where people can have their cremated remains interred there? I was told there was a lighthouse with that service off the coast of Oregon.
@@markmh835 that is correct, but I don't think many people ever bought the service and the company doing it is out of business.
Great video! One i would add is Antelope Island on the Great Salt Lake. There is a herd of bison, as well as antelope deer, coyotes, and rarely, wolverines. Also, thousands of migratory birds, and its also an international dark sky park. Great place to camp and visit.
Interestingly, there's another island with the same name in Lake Powell!
Even if it’s not technically an island anymore 😬
@@jakebutler291 nice. We did the houseboat thing on lake Powell when I was a kid
Agreed, Antelope Island is awesome
Antelope Island (really more like Antelope Peninsula now) is indeed a really interesting place. I'm surprised that it would be considered a Dark Sky park, though, considering how close it is to Salt Lake City. Parts of it are less than 10 miles from SLC airport and even the farthest parts are only slightly over 20 miles from the airport.
This is a very interesting assortment of islands.
Isle Royale is actually the third-largest island in the contiguous US, as the second-largest island in the contiguous US is Padre Island which is the biggest of the Texas barrier islands at 209 square miles or 542 square km. Isle Royale on the other hand is 206 square miles or 534 square km. Padre Island is not only the largest of the Texas barrier islands, but also the world's longest barrier island! It was named after Father José Nicolás Ballí, a missionary priest who once owned the island and served as a collector of finances for all the churches in the Rio Grande Valley. Padre Island serves as an important nesting site for the Kemp's ridley sea turtle who primarily live in the Gulf of Mexico.
I know you weren't gonna talk about Long Island, but Long Island has some interesting things on its own. The LIRR has more than 700 miles (1,100 km) of track, with the passenger railroad system totaling over 300 miles! The first time a man rode a bicycle for one mile in less than a minute actually happened on the LIRR's Central Branch, when Charles Minthorn Murphy performed this feat in 1899 by drafting behind a LIRR passenger car. The Montauk Point Lighthouse was the very first public works project of the US government, as it was authorized in 1792 by George Washington himself! Shinnecock Hills by Southampton is the oldest incorporated golf club in the US as the club has been around since 1891!
You should’ve covered Tangier Island, VA!
Sir, your videos are very informative. You do a great job on all of your videos. Keep up the great work you're doing.
I'm disappointed you didn't mention Whidbey Island, mainly because it's where I grew up. It's home of Deception Pass State Park in Washington, the most visited state park in the State of Washington.
Thanks for this! I second your request. Fort Casey, Useless Bay, NAS Oak Harbor, the Deception Pass bridge … Rhododendrons and pig wars … there’s such a great variety of geography and history!
Whitney Island Washington needs to be considered for one of your segments. It has a very interesting history a long with the nearby San Juan Islands. I've really enjoyed what you have done so far
Door County is a beautiful area, i spent part of my youth in Door County while visiting my grandmother!
I knew Beaver Island would be on this list, I grew up visiting my grandparents who lived there. It’s a beautiful place.
Geography king is a true prince, love all the fascinating stuff we always learn from you, and your dry humor you sprinkle in always make the videos that much more enjoyable.
Thank you!
I especially loved the disclaimer that Mullett Island in Florida is not named for the popular coiffe that perpetuated there. 😂
Loved this one! I grew up on the mainland UP directly across from Washington Island and could see its shoreline across Green Bay (the water body, not the city). Then I went to school at Michigan Tech, and my Mammalogy professor was the one running the Isle Royale wolf-moose-spruce study, which has been ongoing since the 60s or 70s and is the longest continuous biological study.
Hello Geoffrey, I'm John in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. I stumbled across your channel about 15 Interesting U.S. Islands. I love geography and was totally absorbed by this video. I love the research you put into your subject and your presentation. You talked to me, not at me. Therefore I felt totally relaxed as I
Followed along. I have subscribed and look forward to many more outings with you. Keep safe and well, and keep up the great productions.
Nice video - don't forget Fanette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe!
You missed Fannette Island in Lake Tahoe. It's the only island in the whole lake and is located in the Emerald Bay section of the lake, which is one of the most beautiful of a very beautiful lake. My favorite lake in the US!
I feel like orcas island, Catalina Island, mackinac island, south bass island, antelope Island, angel island, and bush key all deserve some attention.
Also Hawaii Island is pretty interesting completely on its own.
And how about Alcatraz?
The fact he didn’t include orcas😢
Santa Catalina is a fascinating place, both because of its history with the local tribes but also in the 1900s when it was wholly owned by Wrigley, hosted spring training for the Cubs, and how it was given over to the City of Los Angeles by the Wrigley's. And it's a blast of a tourist island now.
Next installment I suggest Sauvie Island in the Columbia River just north of Portland, created by the confluence with the Willamette. Half farms and scattered residential protected from intense development by Oregon land use laws, half a riparian forest and bird sanctuary. One of my favorite places in Earth.
I visited there from Australia just before Covid. It was my first island visit in the US!
I loved all the farms and how relaxed it was there.
I also meant to tell Kyle Sauvie is the largest river island in the US. Definitely worth including in the next installment.
Very nice. Thank you. (I always am pleased when I receive a notification of one of your productions. Always very informative and professionally presented.)
Christmas greetings from the Les Cheneaux Islands on Lake Huron (formerly 50 years in Sanger, CA)
Far and away my favorite part of learning about these islands is how indigenous peoples interacted with them! So informative!
Been to Mt. Dessert Island many of times in my life. One of my favorite places on Earth. The beauty is unparalleled!
was not surprised to see cumberland island on here had the chance to jet ski into its interior and have seen the horses plenty of times. amelia island, the island directly south of cumberland is arguably even more interesting as it has a rich pirate history, as well as having 7 different groups own the island at a point in time. i recommend looking into fire island in new york as well super cool place that doesn’t even feel like you’re in new york.
Other notable interesting islands in the US WEST... Catalina Island CA (wildlife), San Juan Island WA (pig war), Canoe (or Pass) Island WA (bridge + deception), Campbell Island in Campbell Lake on Fidelgo Island WA (larger than most Island on islands). Whidbey Island WA (skinny), Alcatraz Island CA (prision), Govener Island OR (airport), Mercer Isalnd WA (suburban).
That was really cool! Thanks.
Avery Island was named after the Avery family, who settled there in the 1860s. Petite Anse Island, renamed Avery Island in the late 19th century, was purchased by John Craig Marsh of New Jersey in 1818. His daughter, Sarah Craig Marsh, married Daniel Dudley Avery in 1837, thus uniting the Marsh and Avery families. Before the Civil War, Edmund McIlhenny joined the Avery family, by marrying Mary Eliza Avery, daughter of Daniel Dudley Avery and Sarah Marsh Avery. According to the Tabasco company, Tabasco was first produced by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868, but there's more to it than that. The story actually begins in the pre-Civil War era with a New Orleans plantation owner named Maunsel White, who was famous for the food served at his sumptuous dinner parties. He drew inspiration from European, Caribbean, and Cajun sources.
But one of his favorite sauces was of his own devising, made from the Tabasco chili. White added it to various dishes and bottled it for his guests. Although the McIlhennys have tried to dismiss the possibility, it seems clear now that in 1849, a full two decades before Edmund McIlhenny professed to discover the Tabasco pepper, White was already growing Tabasco chilies on his plantation. An interesting fact is that Tabasco is one of the few US companies to be granted a Royal Warrant that certified it as a supplier to the British monarch by Elizabeth II in 2009. Elizabeth II's love of Tabasco was thanks to her mother, who during WWII sent her staff to scourge London for it!
Great video- I always love the Great Lakes representation! If there’s a part 2, I would like to nominate Mackinac Island in Michigan and Belle Isle in Richmond, VA. Both have super interesting histories.
Cool vid idea, Kyle
Honorable mentions from my end:
Tangier Island, VA
Smith Island, MD
Hatteras Island, NC
Dry Tortugas, FL
And many of the untouched islands off the Virginia Eastern Shore Peninsula
In a future video, consider looking at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. It has a lot of interesting history. It was considered the Ellis Island of the west because it was a processing/detention for Asian immigrants.
How about Howland Island, Baker Island, Jarvis Island, and Johnston Atoll? Tiny, on the equator, and about as far from anywhere that it is possible to be. That's why I find them interesting.
My two favorite islands are Santa Catalina and Roosevelt Island.
Isle Royale and Crater Lake are both on my list to visit. Wizard Island has always intrigued me at Crater
You outdid yourself on this, Kyle. Interesting information non-stop from start to finish! Maybe it appealed to me because I grew up on an island off a bigger island...
Fascinating and educational. Thanks for sharing ❤
Ocracoke Island, NC would definitely warrant a mention in your next video. Ferry access only, locals with a very distinct dialect, wild horses, and the ghost of Blackbeard!
It has a great classic lighthouse, too! What's an island without a lighthouse?
Excellent video as always. There's something a big mystical about islands that's hard to describe. One thing about Mt. Desert Island: I've spent a good bit of time in the area and I've often heard locals pronounce Desert like "Dessert" despite there only being one S.
@interstate543 You are correct; it is pronounced like the word "dessert" (/dɪˈzɜːrt/ dih-ZURT). The name is not from the English word "desert" meaning "arid landscape" ( the coast of Maine is not arid), but from the French name "L’Isle des Monts-déserts" (meaning "island of barren mountains").
While this use is not common, in English the word "desert" (with the stress on the second syllable) can be an adjective meaning barren (that is, desert[ed]); that is the sense used for this Island's name.
I live there. I can confirm this
There’s another Rock Island just off the coast of Washington Island, WI that was once owned by a Chicago businessman with Icelandic heritage, and he built several buildings using the stones on the island as a summer retreat.
There's also a Rock Island in Tennessee, even has its own state park bearing its name. Great bbq there.
@@gb-fs1tzNeither can compete with the beauty of rock island illinois and that's from a completely unbiased source and not a proud native of rock island illinoiz
For anyone curious about St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait, RUclipsr Peter Santenello visited there and published a series of three or four long videos. You really get a feel of the island and its people and what life is like there.
No mention of any of the California Channel Islands in So Cal?
Or the Farallon Islands in Nor Cal?
Belle Isle in the Detroit River is also a cool one in the great lakes region
solid georgraphy nerd stuff, well done, greeting from Latvia
Cool vid, as usual! One thing: I was surprised that you didn’t mention the wild horses that live on Cumberland Island, even though you pictured them. They are definitely one of its major draws.
FORT DESOTO IS AWESOME! beautiful beaches, significant historical features you can explore, dog park, boat ramps, hiking trails. Good fishing, bikinis. Spectacular sunsets and warm rain thunderstorms. I love it there!
This would make for a great series. Hope to see a part 2.
The Keweenaw Peninsula in Lake Superior is actually an island as the Portage canal made it an Island. The Portage canal lift bridge (US 41) connects it to the upper peninsula of Michigan. It is a great place to visit.
Great video! The mention of a couple of Great Lakes islands in particular gets me thinking - you should do a collaboration with Lost Lakes on a video or two. You two could talk about your travels, or ask each other a set of questions, or you could interview him about Canadian rivers and lakes. I think you both give off a similar relaxed but competent and professional vibe that works well!
Always a good day when my boy Kyle drops a new vid
Great coverage of a fascinating topic. Keep up the good work Kyle. You're the Best.
I absolutely love beaver island. Loved it so much I bought a few acres. In my opinion Michigan is probably the prettiest state in the 48 continental. Beaver island definitely has a unique history and some of the nicest people.
Block Island is absolutely gorgeous! The stairs are a famous "instagram spot" kinda like that street in Dumbo in NYC or the Nashville wing mural. Also many of Rhode Island's other islands are gorgeous too such as the famous Newport or Jamestown, a quieter island just West of Newport. Jamestown has these old abandoned WWII artillery fort named Ft. Wetherill that is super cool and I highly recommend.
I love the way you explain things. Keeping it simple. Easy to understand and digest.
Quite nice seeing Kent Island chosen. I remember going from SE DC to Chincoteague VA & going over the Bay Bridge. Scary as hell! And seriously, are you snitching my record collection? Keep 'em coming, Kyle.
Awesome video as always. Thank you
Another interesting one is Assateague Island. It’s split between two states, Maryland and Virginia, and two national wildlife refuges, Assateague and Chincoteague, plus has a population of roaming wild horses.
They almost paved over all the wildlife until a storm snapped it off the tourist half and made it an island
GREAT VIDEO KYLE!!! If you do another video on cool islands, you should mention Nicollet Island in Minneapolis, MN.... which is actually where DeLaSalle High School is located basically in the heart of the city!!
Cool video, another interesting island is Tangier Island. I do think it might be well known to geography nerds though, but I think the fact that the people that live there have a very distinct accent is pretty unique. It also might disappear in the next few decades and force their very loyal population off the island which is pretty sad to hear
on isle royal, i remember leaning about it in 6th grade science with the wolf study! taught us a lot about the balance of predators and prey, and how even tho predators seem like a bad thing they’re very important to ecosystems :)
Ah I am so glad you mentioned Beaver Island, I accidentally became super interested in it when I was looking for islands in the great lakes for tabletop Worldbuilding locations to put my players in & now we all want to vacation there sometime lol
It’s a beautiful place. Found out about it 12 years ago and it always stayed in the back of my head. Made my first trip there in 2021. I loved it so much I bought 6 acres. You should definitely visit this unique and amazing place.
Enjoyed the video and learned a few things I didn't know. I would love to see you cover Tangier Island in a few episode. Tons of interesting things about the island/town.
Surprised there was no mention of Tangier Island.
My wife and I go up to Cadillac Mountain every year to watch the sunrise. It’s absolutely breath taking
Love that you chose some spots in the Great Lakes! Just a beautiful area to explore
Great video! This was a fun watch! I liked the last college one.
We used to spend a lot of time at Ft DeSoto park when we lived in Pinellas County. We watched them build the new Sunshine Skyway bridge from its beach.
I wish you mentioned long beach island in new jersey. i dont think there is another island in north america as long and skinny but also as highly developed. people flock there from all over the nyc and philly metros and its great for fishing and surfing. same with kiawah island south carolina because its home to one of the coolest golf courses i have ever seen. runs right up along the beach and marshes and the whole area is absolutely infested with gators, even moreso then places like orlando. It has hosted the pga tour before and likely will again.
Yours is the only geography channel I ever watch because I like the same nerdy things you do like trivia, currency and being on an island in a lake on and island in a lake 😅
Another geographical feature that fascinates me is river origins, or even just rivers in general. How about a video on that?
Great video! Some other islands with interesting backstories include Hart Island, New York City's potter's field, and Plum Island off the coast of Long Island, which has an infectious disease laboratory on it.
Many years ago, I was friends with a lady who's family homesteaded, and still owned Shelter Is. in Flathead Lake, in Montana. They originally grew cherries on the island, and there were still a few trees remaining. It was one of my favorite places, with just 2 small, old cabins and a rickety boat dock. It seems the family has since sold the 25 acre island, and now, there is a huge, ugly English mansion, and lots of pavement, and landscaping. What a heartbreaking thing to happen to that tiny slice of heaven!
I visited Avery Island in 1994. It sounds like they’ve expanded their offerings in the past 30 years. I recall just a Tabasco tour and a magnificent lookout platform for observing the birdlife.
There's a really nice movie from 2009 called City Island. Free streaming on a few major sites. Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies lead a blue collar life on this island off Bronx, NY.
There’s so many islands in the Puget sound, and off the coast of California that would’ve been interesting to examine as well. This was very interesting though I’ve never heard of some of these! Do a part two!
I made many visits to Dauphin Island when I briefly lived in Mobile Alabama. I loved the sandy beaches there, although the water was a bit murky.
loved this video. a list of desolate, isolated, or remote us towns would be cool.
This is just a suggestion, but a video about the various mountains and mountain ranges in North America and their unique features would be interesting. I love mountains. Also, maybe a series of videos explaining how geographers define common geographic features would be interesting. As a example, when deciding the difference between a mountain and a hill, prominence is usually the deciding factor, or how the difference between a butte and a mesa is decided by the ratio of width to height. I appreciate your videos. Keep them coming.
Thank you. That is very interesting!
Glad you talked about Mt. Desert and Bar Harbor! I went there in October and it was great.
Now look, obviously i watched the video because i knew you were gonna drop some sweet island knowledge, but really you got some great taste in music, and i'm kinda here to see what's on display so i can dig it. Emmylou's voice is *chefs kiss*
Great video! Fun way to wake up in the morning with some coffee, at least for me. Islands are fascinating to begin with, especially the ones within rivers, and the Great Lakes.
On the last one, Texas A&M on the island being the only college campus on an island, I always found it so disappointing that CSU Channel Islands isn't actually on the Channel Island but is decently far inland in Camarillo instead. Also USC has a satellite campus on Catalina Island but it's only for marine science students and they can only stay for 2 semesters
I loved this video. There's now a new list of places I want to visit. However, I'm surprised you didn't mention Padre Island, it's got an interesting history, and it's the longest barrier island in the world.
Maybe Galvy as well. Huge mafia influence, poignant during the Civil War and all the historic buildings
Love your take on geography. I always learn something from your episodes. Might I suggest a list of the largest islands in each state? Or, the most famous island. Some states might be obvious but others not so much...
Very interesting! I especially appreciate two entries from my home state of Michigan. I would also recommend another Michigan island for a future episode - Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. Best known for fudge and its prohibition of automobiles, this island was actually the nation’s second national park after Yellowstone.
Glad to see Mt Desert on your list. I grew up there , in Hulls Cove (3 miles from Bar Harbor). BTW, it is pronounced desert as in the final course of a meal, not as an arid region. It also has the only true fjord (Somes Sound) in the continental US.
The Hudson River is actually the only true fjord in the eastern US. There are also a couple fjords in Washington (and several more in Alaska). I think you're mistaken about Somes Sound.
you are confused - no river is a fjord - a river is a river and a fjord is not a river @@Peanutbetter27
I was about to say that Washington has fjords (I live there)
Interesting islands. I appreciate learning of these different places. Can you explore the west a bit more? Great videos. :-)
isle royale is one of my favorite places of all time. its been a few years since i last visited, but the hiking is unmatched without being too difficult and the catch and release lakes found within have loads of trout and walleye
I spent 52 days on the open road this year but the videos always remind me I need to aggressively make arrangements for more.
So glad to see Kent Island. I bought a house there in 1990 and lived there for 30 years until 2020 when I moved to WA so my wife could be closer to her family. It is a wonderful place to live but the Ocean City traffic is a killer.
Maclellan island is pretty cool, we went out there on a field trip in elementary school. Williams island behind Baylor is pretty neat too. Great video! I want to go visit some of those islands in the Great Lakes
I’m above Maine in Canada and mount desert island is in my top 5 bucket lists for hiking, so cool
B- on the accent, which is kinda high coming from a local. 😁 That’s called a a good job. You did catch a whiff of the Downeast dialect, and you must have practiced a little cos you didn’t do Boston! Very glad MDI was on the list! Missed facts: 2nd largest Atlantic island (only behind LI, NY); 6th largest in the continental U.S.; Cadillac Mtn. highest Eastern coastal point north of Rio de Janeiro.
Cool islands Kyle. Glad that you included Isle Royale which is possibly my favorite U. S. island.
Thanks for the island report, Kyle. I am looking forward to the next island report. I hope it includes Mud Island.
If you do another “island” edition, include a couple of the Great Salt Lake islands. Antelope and Fremont are especially interesting. Love your videos!
Thanks for the Great Lakes love, King. If be interested to hear more about some shipwrecks aside from/ in addition to the Edmund Fitzgerald.
So much to learn here, thank you, GeoKing! The only island you mentioned that I’ve seen is the one in Crater Lake. The whole area is gorgeous! My favorite island is Whidbey Island in Washington State. I also like Alcatraz, but maybe more because of the views you get when on the island.
Have you considered making a video about “Points” or Capes? I mean places that jut out, like Point Lobos, Point Reyes, California, Cape Flattery, Disappointment, WA, Capes Foulweather and Perpetua, Oregon. Oh gosh, what a job. Too many just on the West Coast alone!
Thanks for another informative and entertaining geography video, your majesty!
I'm a big fan of the apostle islands of Lake superior. Maybe because I've lived most of my life next to them and their importance to my ancestors.