90th meridian west explained

The meridian 90° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole.

In Antarctica, the meridian defines the western limit of Chile's territorial claim. The land further west is not claimed by any nation.

The 90th meridian west forms a great circle with the 90th meridian east, located midway between the Prime meridian and the 180th meridian; thus, the center of the Western Hemisphere is on this meridian.

In the United States, the Mississippi River runs close to the 90th meridian, crossing the meridian several times. The cities of St. Louis, Memphis and New Orleans are all close to the meridian.

One of the four 45 x 90 points is located in Rietbrock, Wisconsin, where the 45th parallel north intersects with the 90th meridian west, marking the halfway point between the 90° Latitude North, 180th Meridian East & West, 0° latitude, and 0° longitude.

From Pole to Pole

Starting at the North Pole and heading south to the South Pole, the 90th meridian west passes through:

Co-ordinatesCountry, territory or seaNotes
Arctic Ocean
NunavutEllesmere Island
Nansen Sound
NunavutAxel Heiberg Island
Norwegian Bay
NunavutGraham Island
Norwegian Bay
NunavutNorth Kent Island and Devon Island
Barrow Strait
NunavutPrince Leopold Island
Prince Regent Inlet
NunavutBaffin Island
Gulf of Boothia
Nunavut — several islands including Helen Island, and the mainland
Hudson Bay
Manitoba
Ontario — from
Minnesota
Lake Superior
Michigan
Wisconsin — from, passing through Reedsburg (at); crosses the 45th parallel north in Marathon County, Wisconsin, having one of the 45 x 90 points (at)
Illinois — from
Missouri — from, passing a mile and a half (2 km) east of Ste. Genevieve
Arkansas — from
Tennessee — from, passing through Memphis (at)
Mississippi — from, passing through Brandon (at) a suburb of Jackson
Louisiana — from, passing through New Orleans (at)
Gulf of Mexico
Yucatán
Campeche — from
Passing through Jalapa
Ahuachapán — Passing through of Western Tacuba district (at 13.9°N -90°W), Central San Francisco Menéndez district (at 13.8333°N -90°W), and finishing the Barra de Santiago canton (at 13.6833°N -90°W).
Pacific OceanPassing just west of Genovesa Island, Galápagos, (at)
Passing just east of Santa Fe Island, Galápagos, (at)
Southern Ocean
AntarcticaBorder between unclaimed territory (to the west) and Antártica Chilena Province (to the east), claimed by

See also