How are range lines oriented in the Rectangular Survey System?

In the Rectangular Survey System, also known as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), range lines are oriented north to south. This system is used primarily in the United States to create a grid for the surveying and dividing of land. The range lines are set at specific intervals, typically six miles apart, running parallel to the meridian line, which is the reference line for measuring east or west.

This north-south orientation helps in establishing the corrective grid necessary for land description. The ranges work together with township lines, which run east to west, to create townships, each measuring six miles by six miles. Understanding this orientation is crucial for interpreting land descriptions and navigating the system effectively.

The other choices do not accurately describe the orientation of range lines within this system, which is fundamentally based on the north-south alignment.