26th meridian west
The meridian 26° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, Greenland, the Atlantic Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole.
The 26th meridian west forms a great circle with the 154th meridian east.
From Pole to Pole
Starting at the North Pole and heading south to the South Pole, the 26th meridian west passes through:
The line is historically important because on 18 April 1941 the United States government used it as the demarcation between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres for the period of hostilities leading up to its participation in the Second World War. This influenced Britain's proposed occupation of the Canary Islands in its planned (but never executed) Operation Pilgrim. After the war began the boundary was moved to the 35th meridian west for purposes of service, as specified in the American Campaign Medal.
Co-ordinates Country, territory or sea Notes 90°0′N 26°0′W Arctic Ocean 83°21′N 26°0′W Greenland Northern Peary Land 83°14′N 26°0′W Frederick E. Hyde Fjord 83°8′N 26°0′W Greenland Southern Peary Land 82°10′N 26°0′W Independence Fjord 82°1′N 26°0′W Greenland 81°36′N 26°0′W Hagen Fjord 81°29′N 26°0′W Greenland Mainland and the island of Milne Land 70°32′N 26°0′W Scoresby Sund 70°16′N 26°0′W Greenland 68°47′N 26°0′W Atlantic Ocean Passing just west of São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal (at 37°51′N 25°51′W)
Passing just east of Saunders Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (at 57°47′S 26°20′W)
Passing just east of Montagu Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (at 58°28′S 26°13′W)60°0′S 26°0′W Southern Ocean 75°23′S 26°0′W Antarctica Claimed by both Argentina (Argentine Antarctica) and United Kingdom (British Antarctic Territory)