Near Mortlach in Wheatlands No. 163, Saskatchewan — The Prairie Region (North America)
Third Meridian
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2022
1. Third Meridian Marker
This marker at the Third Meridian, which is a major control survey line upon which the survey of Saskatchewans lands to the west depends, honors the work of pioneer surveyors who overcame great difficulties in establishing a vast survey system on the prairies.
Basic to land settlement and the free homestead policy, the survey system of townships, sections and quarter sections, with allowance for roads, permitted ready location of lands and registration of titles.
Most of the provincial survey system was completed between 1880 and 1905 and now covers more than 110,000 square miles. The pioneer land surveyors made a notable contribution to the development of Canada by establishing one of the worlds more efficient survey systems, unique in its uniformity, simplicity and practicality.
Erected by Government of Saskatchewan.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Landmarks • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 50° 27.972′ N, 106° 0.303′ W. Marker is near Mortlach, Saskatchewan, in Wheatlands No. 163. It is on Trans-Canada Highway (Provincial Highway 1) 4.5 kilometers east of Highway 626, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in a pull-out on the north side of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mortlach SK S0H 3E0, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Saskatchewan. It is also in the Prairies. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony and also Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Mortlach Fire Brigade (approx.
this page online
Also see . . . Western Canada's Meridians.
The meridians were determined by painstaking survey observations and measurements, and in reference to other benchmarks on the continent, but were determined using 19th century technology. The only truly accurate benchmarks at that time were near the prime meridian in Europe. Benchmarks in other parts of the world had to be estimated by the positions of the sun and stars. Although the meridians were remarkably accurate for the time, today they are known to be several hundred metres in error.(Submitted on July 18, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
All Saskatchewan land lies between the first and fourth meridians.
Saskatchewan's western boundary, the fourth meridian, forms the world's longest surveyed straight line.
Saskatchewan's eastern boundary is not a straight line but rather has a stepped appearance.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2022
2. Third Meridian Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 18, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,664 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 18, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
