What are the lines six miles apart and parallel to the principal meridian known as?

The correct answer relates to the specific survey system used in land division, particularly in the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). Lines that are six miles apart and run parallel to the principal meridian are referred to as range lines. These range lines are crucial as they help in defining the boundaries of townships and sections within the survey system.

To elaborate, range lines function by creating a grid pattern that organizes land into manageable units for sale and development. They run north to south and, when paired with township lines—which run east to west—create a block of land known as a township, which is typically six miles square.

Understanding this concept is essential for anyone involved in land surveying, real estate, or land management under the PLSS, as it lays the fundamental framework upon which land descriptions and boundaries are established. In contrast, baseline lines and township lines serve different purposes in the PLSS, and survey lines can refer to various types of lines involved in land measurement rather than specific distances and orientations relative to the principal meridian.