Geographers might blanch at the thought, but Yellowstone National Park officials have pushed the 45th Parallel a bit north in an effort to make park visitors safer.
In truth, though, and as the accompanying picture illustrates. the relocation of the sign depicting the 45th Parallel as it passes through the park actually brings it closer to the actual latitudinal line.
If you haven't taken one of Dr. Bob Janiskee's geography courses, the 45th parallel is an imaginary line that circles the globe at the point halfway between the equator and the North Pole. This same line passes through Minneapolis-St. Paul; Ottawa, Canada; Venice, Italy; and the northern tip of the Japanese islands. In most of Yellowstone, it is slightly north of the Montana-Wyoming border.
For years, Yellowstone visitors have stopped on the road near the Boiling River parking area between Gardiner and Mammoth Hot Springs to have their picture taken with the landmark sign. The spot was so popular in the summer that vehicle and pedestrian congestion in the area became a safety issue. It prompted managers to look for an alternate location for the popular “photo op.”
Using GPS technology and keeping safety in mind, the sign has been moved nearly a mile north to a small parking area that will provide not only a much safer, but, as it turns out, also a more geographically accurate location. While placement on the exact site where the 45th crosses the road was not an option, it is now within approximately 1,200 feet of the correct position.
P.S. -- Contrary to popular belief, the majority of the Montana/Wyoming state line does not follow the 45th parallel through the park. The “Entering Montana” and “Entering Wyoming” signs will stay in their current locations near the Boiling River parking area.
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Comments
The complete quote from Nostradamus is, "The sky will burn at 45 degrees. Fire approaches the New City. Immediately a huge, scattered flame leap up when they want to have proof of the Normans."
I was reading through an old diary from 2012, and I think I had watched the same TV show because I saw "the sky will burn at 45deg" and connected it to Yellowstone because of confirmation-bias (not even being cognizant of Yellowstone's location) and my obsession with the volcano at the time.
So many wonderful memories from living only 90 minutes away at the time. Driving to that location, often at 3-4:00am, to take the quarter mile walk to the where the Boiling River emerges from underground. Here it blends with the icy waters to create the most enjoyable bathing experience ever. Then at sunrise, we would emerge refreshed, relaxed and happy.
Eventually closed at night, and perhaps completely now, the memories will exist forever.
The sign was/is a great addition for the Park and the visitors. It is a fascinating and surprising piece of information as it brings lines on the map to life! So whether the sign is a mile north or not is inconsequential. The moving of the sign is a safe and beneficial action by the Park. The word was out in 1979. I can only imagine the traffic now as turning against the traffic kikely created a line if traffic behind.
Enjoy the sublime beauty, geological features and history of one of Earth's truly glorious natural places.