8legs: Lewis and clark expedition

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Where are we? Getting longitude right has been a historic undertaking

The struggle to determine longitude drove advances from celestial methods to precise timekeeping.
Timekeeping on ships finally helped compute a location’s distance from Greenwich.
Geographers credit explorers like Fremont and Thompson for creating detailed longitude records.
Modern surveying relies on satellite systems, replacing older methods.
Longitude accuracy influenced international boundaries and historic conflicts.
The first accurate longitudes came with improved western exploration maps in the 1840s.
David Thompson’s charts mapped vast terrain and guided future governance.
Environmental shifts mean longitude markers still need adjustment over time.
Jefferson's wartime map advice underscored early cartographic limits.

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