The 162nd meridian east (162° E) is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole. It is defined as the set of all points on the Earth's surface that have a longitude of 162 degrees east of the Prime Meridian at Greenwich. The meridian forms a great circle with the 18th meridian west.
Geography (Pole‑to‑Pole)
| Latitude (approx.) | Region / Country | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| 90° N | Arctic Ocean | Begins at the North Pole. |
| 75° N | East Siberian Sea (Arctic Ocean) | Passes between the Medvyezhi Islands. |
| 70° N – 64° N | Russia (Sakha Republic, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Magadan Oblast) | Traverses the Russian Far East. |
| 61° N | Sea of Okhotsk | Crosses Penzhin Bay. |
| 55° N – 45° S | Pacific Ocean | Crosses a large expanse of the Pacific, passing east of the Marshall Islands and west of the Solomon Islands. |
| 60° S – 70° S | Southern Ocean | Traverses the waters surrounding Antarctica. |
| 78° S | Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory, claimed by Australia) | Ends at the South Pole. |
The meridian therefore passes through a variety of climatic zones, from polar ice caps to temperate and tropical seas, and across the Siberian continental interior.
Great‑circle relationship
Because any two opposite meridians together form a great circle, the 162nd meridian east is paired with the 18th meridian west. Together they divide the Earth into two hemispheres.
See also
- List of meridians – overview of all lines of longitude.
- 18th meridian west – the meridian opposite 162° E.
- Prime Meridian – the reference meridian at 0° longitude.
References
- “162nd meridian east.” Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/162nd_meridian_east (accessed 2024).
