The 56th meridian east is a line of longitude that lies 56° east of the Prime Meridian at Greenwich. Extending from the North Pole across the Earth's surface to the South Pole, it forms part of the geographic coordinate system used for navigation, mapping, and cartography.
Geographical extent
- Northern terminus: North Pole
- Southern terminus: South Pole
Path across land and water
From north to south, the 56th meridian east traverses the following major geographic regions and sovereign states:
| Latitude (approx.) | Body of water / Country / Territory | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 90° N – 80° N | Arctic Ocean (including the Barents Sea) | Begins at the North Pole and passes through the Arctic Ocean. |
| 78° N – 64° N | Russia (Krasnoyarsk Krai, Yamalo‑Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Khanty‑Mansi Autonomous Okrug) | Crosses the western Siberian plateau. |
| 64° N – 56° N | Russia (Tyumen Oblast, Orenburg Oblast) | Passes near the southern Urals. |
| 56° N – 44° N | Kazakhstan (West Kazakhstan Region, Atyrau Region) | Traverses the Caspian lowlands. |
| 44° N – 37° N | Turkmenistan (Balkan Region) | Crosses the eastern Caspian coastline and the Karakum Desert. |
| 37° N – 30° N | Iran (north‑central provinces such as Semnan and Kerman) | Passes through mountainous and arid terrain. |
| 30° N – 20° N | Persian Gulf (Gulf of Oman) | Enters the Gulf of Oman, coming within a few kilometres of Oman’s southern coast. |
| 20° N – 10° S | Indian Ocean | Continues through open water of the western Indian Ocean. |
| 10° S – 60° S | Southern Ocean | Crosses the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. |
| 60° S – 90° S | Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory) | Enters the sector claimed by Australia (sector bounded by 45° E and 160° E). |
Great‑circle relationship
The 56th meridian east forms a great circle with the 124th meridian west. Together, these two meridians define a continuous line that divides the Earth into two equal hemispheres.
Uses and significance
- Cartography and navigation: Like all meridians, the 56th east provides a reference for longitudinal position, essential for global positioning systems (GPS), aeronautical charts, and maritime navigation.
- Time zones: Portions of the meridian lie within the UTC+04 to UTC+06 time zones, though local political decisions determine the official civil time observed in each country.
- Geopolitical relevance: The meridian passes through a range of geopolitical regions, including resource‑rich areas of the Russian Federation and the Caspian basin, as well as the strategically important Gulf of Oman.
Related meridians
- 55th meridian east and 57th meridian east are adjacent lines of longitude that share similar geographic passages but differ in the specific territories they intersect.
- Prime meridian (0° longitude) serves as the reference point from which eastward longitudes, including the 56th meridian east, are measured.
References
- International Hydrographic Organization, Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition.
- United Nations Group of Experts on Geospatial Information, Geodetic Reference System 1980 (GRS 80).
- National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency, Geographic Names Database (GNDB).