2. The Best State to Launch From

Surprisingly, the closest U.S. state to Africa is Maine, not Florida as many might guess. Despite its northern location, Maine’s proximity to Africa is roughly equivalent to the distance from Florida to California, debunking common misconceptions about geography.

This intriguing fact arises from the Earth’s tilt and the spherical shape of our planet, leading to unexpected geographical truths. The shortest distance between the U.S. and Africa is approximately 5,076 kilometers (3,154 miles), stretching from Quoddy Head in Maine to El Beddouza in Morocco.