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> This was a widespread reference used since Ptolemy and mainly in the > Renaissance times. The Hierro Island is the most western of the Canary > Islands > and it is supposed that the aforementioned Meridian passed by its most > western > 'tip', ie., the Punta Orchilla Cape, at about 18 deg 17 min East from > Greenwich > (excusez moi, je ne sais pas combien des degres depuis Paris! :-). > When the meridian of Hierro was (more or less) officially adopted in1634 by many european astronomers (and in France too), the longitude of Paris was set to exactly 20°E from Hierro Island, as old french maps (even in mid 18th century) show. Best regards JP Cornec 48°44' N 3°28'W -
