Feeling Like Lewis & Clark Trekking Across The Pacific Northwest Frontier! SITREP As I barreled up Northbound I-5 - immediately adjacent to Salem, OR - this *NOTICE* appeared at the side of the road. If you *blink*, you would have missed it. [Fact is, the sign barely registered on my mind until I was already PAST it. It took me the next exit 4 miles up, to turn around and go South until adjacent with it, and THAT next exist was not for another 2 miles further South. So that was an extra 8-miles to make that U-turn. And there was in fact another similar sign on the Southbound side, except it was on the LEFT-hand side of the Southbound freeway - not making it very efficacious nor safe to snap a shot of it. The Northbound side at least had the right-side gravel turnout for the quick photo-snap.] THE SETUP It is a very unusual sign from the standpoint that it isn't actually informing you of a destination that you are most likely to be driving to in your car (in this instance most likely "Portland" which is the stop I was planning on) nor like it's counterpart sign immediately adjacent on the other side of Southbound I-5. EQUIDISTANT BETWEEN THE EQUATOR & THE NORTH POLE That is not to say you couldn't drive to the Equator, since after traversing several country borders (and Drug Cartels, and Militia Death Squads), highways and roadways DO exist that would take you to the Equator. However, you would need an ice-cutter to get to the North Pole. At it's most basic level, this sign is just a fun, true novelty, imparting to the curious, a motivation to know more about the geography of this world we live in. 45TH PARALLEL The 45th parallel north is a circle of latitude 45 degrees north of Earth's equatorial plane. Crossing, Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean, the 45th parallel north is often called the halfway point between the Equator and the North Pole. But true halfway point is actually 16.2 kilometres (10.1 mi) north of 45th parallel because Earth is oblate: it bulges at equator and is flattened at poles. At this latitude, sun is visible for 15 hours, 37 minutes during Summer Solstice & 8 hours, 46 minutes during Winter Solstice. Midday sun stands 21.6 degrees above southern horizon at the December Solstice, 68.4 degrees at June solstice, and exactly 45.0 degrees at the two Equinoxes. THE LOWDOWN It is true random fun to see marking of a large geographical concept at the side of the highway, and is something that just makes one realize how insignificant they are when placed on a planetary scale. read more

45th Parallel - Just outside of Salem, OR along Northbound I-5. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Throughout the year I have to say that living on the 45th parallel averages out to 3 stars. Had actually spent the prior 21 years a couple of degrees farther north before the last 4 here. Summer is amazing, sun rises early and sets late, plenty of time even after work to get in at least 15-20 mile bike ride before dusk. Unfortunately winter is the exact opposite. Seasonal Affective Disorder kicks into high gear and so many require oral Vitamin D and/or a trip or 2 closer to the tropics during this time just to keep the doldrums from overtaking us. If you can survive the dark and dreary winters, however, the summers and the gorgeous scenery make it so worth living here and even farther north. read more

FFor me this is an exciting attraction. It's on I-5 Southbound on your way to Salem.

The best parallel around these parts. The line is so light you almost miss it if you don't really look hard. Limited parking loses a star.

I'm a bit fan of geography and I find this sign quirky yet educational. It doesn't really have anything to do with the rules of the road or transportation whatsoever. Just a random sign informing you of your unique location halfway between the equator and the north pole. Did I need to know it? Nope. But is my curiousity piqued upon seeing it? Absolutely. read more

Oregon has its own colorful GPS. There's signage indicating that there isn't another Burgerville USA (or is it Arctic Circle?) unless one circumnavigates the Earth. This one, on I-5 in Salem, helpfully calculates your distance from the equator and the North Pole. Why have Waze or potentially misleading GPS when you have this? It's a fun, informative signpost. The nearby 54th parallel would play an important role in Oregon history- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_boundary_dispute The British wanted to go as far south as the 42nd parallel; the US wanted to go as far as north as the 54th. The 49th parallel, the border between Washington state&British Columbia, would be the compromise. On top of that, the Spanish&Russians wanted Oregon... but not to the point of actually building settlements like they did in California. The leaves are brown, the skies are gray, Oregon dreaming indeed. Keep your eyes open for this sign! read more

Thought this one would be different because it's in the middle of the northern hemisphere, but it looks just like all the other parallels. 2/5. Would parallel again, I guess. read more