Ferro

Ferro, or HIERRO, the most western of the Canary Islands (q.v.). This island was selected as a first meridian by a scientific congress called together at Paris by Richelieu in 1630. The meridian chosen, 20° W. of Paris, and 17° 39' W. of Greenwich, is not, however, that of the west coast of Ferro, which really lies 20° 1' 45" W. of Paris. Nevertheless it has been universally agreed to regard it as lying exactly on the 20th meridian W. of Paris. This first meridian is still used by some European nations. See LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE.