The East Coast of the United States, also known as the "Eastern Seaboard" or "Atlantic Seaboard", refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. While in a strict geographical sense it includes the entire eastern seaboard, in popular usage the term "East Coast" is most often used to specifically refer to the northern half of this region, taking all thirteen original states plus Maine and Vermont, as well as Washington, D.C. The southern half of this region is frequently considered to belong more strongly to the South or Southeast.