I. Geography
(including Worthy Waterfalls, Islands and Google Maps fun)
I’ve always been a map-lover and I don’t have to tell you that I love lists. So here’s my own list of what I define as the extreme and interesting points and things in Connecticut. (Also included are the waterfalls in Connecticut I deem worthy of a post.)
Jump to:
Geographic Extremes
Geographic Oddities
Waterfalls of Note
Cool Islands Worth Visiting
Crazy CT Historical Geography Disputes, Questions and Relics
Fun with Google Maps
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Falls along Falls Brook Trail, Hartland
Geographic Extremes
Highest Point: S. Slope of Mt. Frissell, Salisbury, 7/6/2003
The Westernmost Point, Greenwich, 5/8/2010
Northernmost Point, Salisbury, 8/4/2012
MA-RI-CT Tri-Point:
MA-NY-CT Tri-Point
Geographic center of Hartford, 151 Farmington Ave, 5/11/2008
The Largest Beach in CT, Madison, 7/12/2008
Largest Natural Lake, Bantam Lake, Litchfield/Morris, 11/2/2008
The Highest elevation pond, Bingham Pond, Salisbury, 8/4/2012
Deepest Lake, Lake Wononscopomuc, Salisbury, 8/4/2012
Highest summit: Bear Mountain, Salisbury
Easternmost Point: Ekonk/Sterling
Southermost Point: Great Captain Island – Info
CT-RI-NY Tri Point: (In the Sound)
Geographic center of the state: East Berlin
Largest Lake: Candlewood Lake (Manmade), Northwest Hills
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Geographic Oddities
We don’t really have that many here, but one (the Southwick Jog) is a doozy. My page about it is a top-ten viewed page on CTMQ.
Point-No-Point, Lordship (Stratford), 5/17/2008
The Southwick Jog, Granby/Suffield, 10/17/2008
Longmeadow Baby Jog, Enfield, 11/30/2009
Most Transient Land, Stonington Harbor, 11/14/2008
Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, Thompson (Webster, MA), 6/3/2011
Palindromic Place-Name: Oxoboxo Lake/River, Montville
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Waterfalls of Note
I’ve seen a bunch that I just don’t feel are worth your time. These are.
Yantic Falls (Indian Leap), Norwich, 11/14/2008
Wadsworth Falls, Middletown, 1/2/2009
Kent Falls, Kent, 11/30/2009
Campbell Falls, Norfolk Sorta, 4/3/2010
Falls Brook Trail Falls, Hartland (scroll down)
Southford Falls, Southbury, 4/2/2011
Nonnewaug Falls, Woodbury, 9/10/2011
Westfield Falls, Middletown, 1/26/2013
Wolcott Falls, Hamden, 5/5/2013
Enders Falls, Hartland
Cargill Falls, Putnam
Diana’s Pool, Chaplin
Highest Waterfall, Roaring Brook Falls, Cheshire
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Cool Islands worth visiting
Each of these is interesting. Trust me.
Haddam Island State Park
Sheffield Island Nature Trail
Salt Meadow Unit
Outer Island Unit
Thimble Islands, Branford
Charles Island - You can walk to it
Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut
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Crazy CT Historical Geography Disputes, Questions and Relics
I’ve become fascinated with Colonial border disputes. Like the one where Connecticut refused to give up land down in the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. I’ll visit someday – since it used to be Connecticut after all.
Historic Geography/Charter dispute in Pennsylvania (Info)
Pennamite-Yankee War (Info) in Pennsylvania
Case Western Reserve, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Plum Island, NY
Fishers Island, NY
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Fun with Google Maps
I love Street View. I love the satellite images. Heck, I love the boring old maps. Once in a while I find something quirky or interesting… And I never thought to save/share those things until now. If anyone has anything cool or odd from CT from these types of sources, just let me know.
1. The Light at the End of the Tunnel is Actually the Searing Fires of Hell
2. Rentschler Field during a game! Okay, this is pretty cool: The Google satellite flew over the Rent during a game. I can’t pick myself out though.
You are my hero of the week and possibly the year! Im such a history nerd, and am learning a lot from this site. I found it while doing a search on the institute of living, and sorry to say i didnt learn anything new in regards to that place…but I always did wonder about Pygmy village (been up there a few times, but never put two and two together as far as Nike is concerned) Anyways, besides me making you my new hero and me being super excited someone has the time and energy to get some awesome facts about good ole’ CT, I noticed that in this section of waterfalls and other geographical information that you didnt mention Mill Pond Falls in the center of Newington. Its the smallest natural running waterfall in the country and beautiful to all the senses. I am suprised you havent been, if im not mistaken you live W.H…you should def. check it out, its small but quite interesting like most things on your site.
Comment #1 on 10.24.10 at 8:49 pmI discrovered your site a few hrs ago, like i said in my search about IOL, needless to say my search has come to a halt and my eyes are dry and heavy from reading all your interesting facts and info about the state. I lived in CT for my first 25 yrs and have been in FL the past 3. Thanks for all the info and hrs of time I will spend finding out all the wonderful things about CT that either I always wondered about or didnt have a clue about! Thanks again
-Jenny
Steve, as you are the “expert” on all things Connecticut and a fellow map lover, I thought you would find this announcement from ConnDOT interesting. Especially since they use the word “Perambulation”.
“DOT to Begin State Boundary Marker Inspection
The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) is announcing that the DOT is preparing to perform the State Line Perambulation – a program to inspect state-line boundary markers — beginning April 1, 2011, in eastern Connecticut.”
How’s Damian doing?
-Don W.
Comment #2 on 03.28.11 at 7:37 amoh man, I would take off work to traipse around with the DOT perambulation crew. I’m still not clear on exactly where CT’s easternmost point it, so perhaps that would help.
a boy can dream.
Comment #3 on 04.05.11 at 12:26 pm