120th meridian west, Geographic meridian line through western Canada and United States.
The 120th meridian west is a line of longitude that runs from the North Pole through Canada and the United States, continuing across the Pacific Ocean toward Antarctica. This imaginary line passes through several states and provinces as it travels southward toward the southern hemisphere.
The Von Schmidt survey of 1872 marked this line along the California-Nevada border, with markers placed noticeably away from the true longitude position. This historical surveying project revealed the challenges of precise geographic measurement during the 19th century.
Native communities and settlers established their territories using this meridian as a reference point for mapping and navigation across North America.
This line marks the boundary between different time zones and serves as a reference for navigation and mapping worldwide. Anyone interested in geographic boundaries and their practical applications will find this position easily on maps and in GPS data.
A border marker in Verdi, Nevada sits about 160 meters west of the true position, a remnant from an era when surveying techniques were far less precise. This small error still stands today, showing how pioneers worked with the tools and methods they had.
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