Rectangular Government Survey: In this form, principal meridians run in which direction?

Rectangular Government Survey: In this form, principal meridians run in which direction?

• A. North and South
• B. East and West
• C. Northeast-Southwest
• D. Horizontal

Answer: (A)

In the Rectangular Government Survey system, the principal meridians run north-south. These meridians act as the vertical reference lines (like lines of longitude) that, with an east-west baseline, create the grid used to describe townships and ranges. East-west directions describe the baselines, not the meridians, and diagonal or horizontal terms don’t apply to the principal meridians. So the correct direction is north and south.

In the Rectangular Government Survey system, the principal meridians run north-south. These meridians act as the vertical reference lines (like lines of longitude) that, with an east-west baseline, create the grid used to describe townships and ranges. East-west directions describe the baselines, not the meridians, and diagonal or horizontal terms don’t apply to the principal meridians. So the correct direction is north and south.