What term describes the vertical lines in townships and sections?

The term that describes the vertical lines in townships and sections is "meridians." In the rectangular survey system, meridians are the north-south lines that help define the boundaries of townships. They are crucial for identifying specific parcels of land within the grid layout established by the Public Land Survey System (PLSS).

Meridians are essential for land surveying and mapping because they enable the precise location of land based on a grid framework. Each township is typically divided into sections, which can be further subdivided. Understanding that meridians run vertically distinguishes them from range lines, which are specifically the horizontal divisions that run east-west and are used to segment the township into ranges.

Additionally, base lines serve as horizontal reference lines in the survey system, while latitude lines are related to geographical coordinate systems, but do not pertain specifically to the survey system used in creating townships and sections. Therefore, recognizing meridians as the vertical lines is critical for anyone studying land surveying and real estate practices in California.