Halfway Between the Equator and the North Pole

45th Parallel marker

I do not have a list of places I need or want to go. However, I admit that while traveling, I always make a point to check some exciting and unplanned locations along the way. That happened when we were driving near the westernmost point of Europe. We had to detour slightly and go to Cabo da Roca in Portugal. When we visited Yellowstone NP a few years ago, we had to stop at the 45th Parallel marker.

Yellowstone River and the city of Gardiner, MT

As the title of this post indicated, the 45th Parallel of Latitude is the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole. The stop was very convenient because we were staying in Gardiner, Montana. Gardiner is just five miles from Yellowstone’s north gate. The north gate entrance is the one with the famous Roosevelt Arch.

So, as we drove into the park every day, we would drive by the marker. The marker will be there if you drive north or south on Highway 89. It is just north of Mammoth Hot Springs and by the Gardiner River.

Gardiner River after rainstorms

Also, around the area, you will see the beautiful Undine Falls and surrounding views of the Absaroka Mountains.


Yellowstone is not the only place with a 45th Parallel marker. Other cities in the US, Europe, and Asia are also crossed by that latitude marker. For example, Salem (Oregon), Minneapolis (Minnesota), and Richford (Vermont) also have 45th Parallel markers. In Europe and Asia, the 45th Parallel also crosses Bordeaux (France), Turin (Italy), and Horonobe (Japan).


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21 Responses

  1. Rebecca Cuningham
    | Reply

    I grew up on the MN 45th parallel. Post about it on Thursday.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      That’ll be great, Rebecca. I’m looking forward to your post.

  2. Anne Sandler
    | Reply

    Beautiful images Egidio. We’ve visited some of them–fantastic!

  3. Leanne Cole
    | Reply

    I agree you have to stop at something like that. Great shots Egidio.

  4. Tra Italia e Finlandia
    | Reply

    Anche Verona, la mia città, si trova più o meno sul 45′ parallelo. 😊

  5. restlessjo
    | Reply

    Such beautiful scenery, Egidio! I may well make for Bordeaux next year and will bear that in mind.

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      That would be great, Jo. Thanks for the comment.

  6. Toonsarah
    | Reply

    Interesting post – we visited Yellowstone some years ago but I didn’t know about this marker so we failed to seek it out. And beautiful landscape photos too, as always from you 🙂

    • Egidio Leitao
      | Reply

      Thank you, Sarah. I think we only discovered the marker because we were staying in Gardiner.

    • Anonymous
      | Reply

      Lindas imagens. 💐 Parabéns 🎉

  7. margaret21
    | Reply

    I never thought about this half-way-house line. A good place to be, on the whole!

  8. Willie Torres Jr.
    | Reply

    Beautiful 🤗 Photos. Breathtaking ..

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