Louisiana meridian, Principal meridian starting point in Louisiana, US
The Louisiana meridian is a principal meridian that runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the northern boundary at longitude 92 degrees 24 minutes 15 seconds west of Greenwich. It serves as a reference line for a survey grid that systematically identifies and separates land parcels throughout Louisiana.
The meridian was established in the early days of the United States to create systematic land surveys west of the Mississippi River. This step made it possible to measure and record property boundaries in a standardized way across the region.
The meridian shaped how land management and property rights are taught and understood across the region. People still use the survey system it established when they buy, sell, or manage property today.
The site is reached by traveling through pine forests and hardwood swamps, which require careful planning and appropriate gear. A small yellow steel marker placed in 1937 marks the starting point, though it can be hard to spot among the vegetation.
The starting point sits in the middle of a swamp, marked only by a small yellow steel rail just 3 inches (8 centimeters) tall sticking out of the ground. This tiny marker is the result of 19th century survey work, yet it serves as the foundation for the region's entire land measurement system.
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