Article XVI of the Oregon State Constitution

In this post, we look at Article XVI of the Oregon State Constitution.  Article XVI is entitled "boundaries".  The border of Oregon is defined by the Act of Congress that made Oregon a state.  The constitution allows that the boundaries can be changed through appropriate agreements approved by the US Congress with other states.  Also, it is defined that the territory of Oregon extends out to sea by a distance defined by statute.  Typically, it is 12 miles to international waters.  The original boundaries of the state are:

Beginning one marine league at sea, due west from the point where the forty-second parallel of north latitude intersects the same, thence northerly, at the same distance from the line of the coast lying west and opposite the state, including all islands within the jurisdiction of the United States, to a point due west and opposite the middle of the north ship channel of the Columbia River; thence easterly, to and up the middle channel of said river, and, where it is divided by islands, up the middle and widest channel thereof, to a point near Fort Walla Walla, where the forty-sixth parallel of north latitude crosses said river, thence east, on said parallel, to the middle of the main channel of the Shoshone or Snake River; thence up the middle of the main channel of said river, to the mouth of the Owyhee River; thence due south, to the parallel of latitude forty-two degrees north; thence west, along said parallel, to the place of beginning

The original "Oregon Territory" is, of course bigger than the current state, but this is what was decided at the time and it seems to have worked out pretty well.