120th meridian west

120°

120th meridian west

The 120th meridian defines part of the border between British Columbia and Alberta in Canada, and approximately defines part of the border between California and Nevada in the United States.

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 much of the border between British Columbia and Alberta is defined by the meridian, and in the United States part of the border between California and Nevada approximately follows it.

The mean solar time at this meridian determines the time for the Pacific Time Zone (UTC−08:00) during standard time. Most of the year however, it is the meridian for Alaska Daylight Time, as daylight saving time is observed for nearly 2/3 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-ordinates	Country, territory or sea	Notes
	Arctic Ocean
	Canada	Northwest Territories — Prince Patrick Island
	M'Clure Strait
	Canada	Northwest Territories — Banks Island
	Prince of Wales Strait
	Amundsen Gulf
	Canada	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
	United States	Washington Oregon — from California / Nevada border (approximate) — from California — from
	Pacific Ocean	Santa Barbara Channel
	United States	California — Santa Rosa Island
	Pacific Ocean
	Southern Ocean
	Antarctica	Unclaimed territory

See also

• 119th meridian west
• 121st meridian west