In the government survey system, what runs north and south?

In the government survey system, principal meridians are the reference lines that run north and south. These meridians serve as vertical baseline references for surveying and mapping land. They are crucial for defining the boundaries of townships and ranges within the rectangular survey system established by the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) in the United States.

Each principal meridian has an associated baseline that runs east and west, enabling the establishment of a grid system for land division. This system facilitates organized land sales and transfers, helping to navigate the often complicated legal descriptions of property.

In contrast to principal meridians, range lines run north and south but are derived from the grid created by the intersection of township lines and principal meridians. Township lines, on the other hand, run east and west, and section markers designate divisions within each township. Understanding the roles of these elements is fundamental to comprehending land surveys and property descriptions in the government survey system.