world's largest rectangle, anyone?

As far as I can tell, the world's largest rectangle is 651,036 square kilometers in area.

What is it? (Or is there a bigger one?)

hmm.... :think:

on edit: As Kellanved notes, the object in question is actually a rectangle projected onto the surface of a sphere. (Or something like that.)

:shrug:

But I'm not 100% sure; I'd say trapezoid (spherical geometry).

Even if the tapering at the top didn't count... the border with Manitoba between the border with the US to Flin Flon is jagged.

So it is!!

http://mq-mapgend.websys.aol.com/mqmapgend?MQMapGenRequest=FDR2dmwjDE%3byt29%26FDJnci4Jkqj%2cMMCJ%3aHOEvq%3b4ragyz%3a%29u7n5rbx%26%40%24%3a%26%40%24s%26wzx%26a8x%26ESEKGF%3dTPWIK%2c850yz0%26%3d229ryxl%40%24%3a%26%40%24%3a%26a2%3a

Very interesting...

First, they aren't rectangles in fact. They are only rectangles on maps. This part of my opinion could change should someone walk along the entire border laying a chalk line. Otherwise those borders are just plots of land where someone arbitrarily decided "this is part of X state, and that is part of Y state."

However, even if such a line were physically drawn it STILL wouldn't make a rectangle. Since it's drawn on a sphere the lines connecting the corners which are supposed to be straight will actually be curved. I don't know the term for such a geometric shape projected onto a curved surface, but I doubt it would be a true rectangle.

Just my picky opinion. ;)

anyway, I find it fascinating that on a Mercator projection, it really is just a huge-ass rectangle.

I'm gonna be in Alberta in July... should I swing on over to Saskatchewan? What's there for tourists?

(Working on the province count; it's only at 3 now.)

1. Wheat. Lots of wheat.
2. It's a good place to check your wheel alignment.
3. If you look really closely in your rear-view mirror, you can see yourself coming up behind you.
4. Oh, and Canola
B-)