The 45th parallel, or 45 degrees north latitude, runs through this wayside and marks the midpoint between the equator and the North Pole. Because the Earth is slightly flattened at the poles, the distance from the 45th parallel to the North Pole is approximately 3117 miles, while the distance to the equator is approximately 3105 miles. Polaris, the North Star, is directly above the North Pole, so the angle between this point and Polaris is 45 degrees.