Wyoming: Difference between revisions

As specified in the designating legislation for the [[Territory of Wyoming]], Wyoming's borders are lines of [[latitude]] [[41st parallel north|41°N]] and [[45th parallel north|45°N]], and longitude 104°3'W and 111°3'W (27 and 34 west of the [[Washington Meridian]])—a [[geodesic]] quadrangle.<ref>{{cite web|author=Willam J. Gribb |author2=Lawrence M. Ostrech |title=Databases and Algorithms to Determine the Boundary of Wyoming |publisher=University of Wyoming, Department of Geography |url=http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc04/docs/pap1718.pdf |access-date=December 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217015637/http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc04/docs/pap1718.pdf |archive-date=December 17, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Wyoming is one of only three states (the others being [[Colorado]] and [[Utah]]) to have borders defined by ''only'' "straight" lines. Due to surveying inaccuracies during the 19th century, Wyoming's legal border deviates from the true [[latitude]] and longitude lines by up to {{convert|1/2|mi|km|spell=in}} in some spots, especially in the mountainous region along the [[45th parallel north|45th parallel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maa.org/mathtourist/mathtourist_08_30_07.html |title=Rectangular States and Kinky Borders |author=Ivars Peterson |access-date=December 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705160310/http://www.maa.org/mathtourist/mathtourist_08_30_07.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008}}</ref> Wyoming is bordered on the north by [[Montana]], on the east by [[South Dakota]] and [[Nebraska]], on the south by [[Colorado]], on the southwest by [[Utah]], and on the west by [[Idaho]]. It is the tenth largest state in the United States in total area, containing {{convert|97814|sqmi|km2}} and is made up of 23 counties. From the north border to the south border, it is {{convert|276|mi|km}}; and from the east to the west border is {{convert|365|mi|km}} at its south end and {{convert|342|mi|km}} at the north end.