120th meridian west explained

The meridian 120° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole.

The 120th meridian west forms a great circle with the 60th meridian east.

In Canada the border between British Columbia and Alberta is defined by the meridian north of where it intersects the Continental Divide of the Americas, and in the United States part of the border between California and Nevada follows it.

The mean solar time at this meridian determines the time for the Pacific Time Zone during standard time. Most of the year however, it is the meridian for Alaska Daylight Time, as daylight saving time is observed for two-thirds of the year.

From Pole to Pole

Starting at the North Pole and heading south to the South Pole, the 120th meridian west passes through:

Co-ordinatesCountry, territory or seaNotes
Arctic Ocean
Northwest TerritoriesPrince Patrick Island
M'Clure Strait
Northwest TerritoriesBanks Island
Prince of Wales Strait
Amundsen Gulf
Nunavut
Northwest Territories — passing through Great Bear Lake
British Columbia / Alberta border — from
British Columbia — from Intersection Mountain at ; at this point the meridian meets the Continental Divide, and the boundary with Alberta diverts southeast
Washington
Oregon — from
California / Nevada border — from
California — from, through South Lake Tahoe and just east of Madera
Pacific OceanSanta Barbara Channel
California — Santa Rosa Island
Pacific Ocean
Southern Ocean
AntarcticaUnclaimed territory

See also