CST Level 1 Land Surveyor Certification Practice

Which line is the horizontal line in Township/Baseline or Range/Meridian?

1. Range

2. Baseline

3. Township

4. Meridian

The correct answer is: Township

In the context of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), the term used for the horizontal line is the Baseline. The Baseline is an east-west line that serves as a reference point for the survey system. It is crucial for establishing the grid system used in land surveying, helping to create Township lines that run parallel to the Baseline. Township lines are horizontal as they run east-west and are identified relative to the Baseline. While they are indeed horizontal, the Baseline itself is the primary reference line designated for this purpose in the surveying system. Range and Meridian refer to vertical lines within the PLSS. Ranges run north-south and are numbered east or west of a Principal Meridian. Therefore, the distinction of the Baseline as the principal horizontal line is key to understanding the layout and organization of land in this system.