Struve Geodetic Arc

The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations that go from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea. They go through ten countries and over 2,820 kilometres (1,750 miles). It made the first accurate measurement of a meridian arc.

Struve Geodetic Arc
Map of the Struve Geodetic Arc where red points identify the World Heritage Sites.
General information
Type	Ensemble of memorable sites
Location	Estonia, Belarus, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Moldova, Russia, Sweden, and Ukraine
Coordinates	59°3′28″N 26°20′16″E
Design and construction
Architect	Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Struve Geodetic Arc
Criteria	ii, iii, vi
Reference	1187
Inscription	2005 (29th Session)

Tartu Old Observatory, the first point of the arc.

The commemorative plaque of the arc in Baranivka, Ukraine

Hogland Z

The chain was made and used by the German-born Russian scientist Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve in the years 1816 to 1855. He did this to find the exact size and shape of the earth. At that time, the chain passed through two countries: Union of Sweden-Norway and the Russian Empire. The Arc's first point is in Tartu Observatory. This is where Struve did much of his research.

In 2005, the chain was added on the World Heritage List. There are 34 plaques or obelisks out of the original 265.

Norway

• Fuglenes in Hammerfest
• Raipas in Alta
• Luvdiidcohkka in Kautokeino
• Baelljasvarri in Kautokeino

Sweden

• "Pajtas-vaara" (Tynnyrilaki) in Kiruna
• "Kerrojupukka" (Jupukka) in Pajala
• Pullinki in Övertorneå
• "Perra-vaara" (Perävaara) in Haparanda

Finland

• Stuor-Oivi (currently Stuorrahanoaivi) in Enontekiö (68°40′57″N 22°44′45″E)
• Avasaksa (currently Aavasaksa) in Ylitornio (66°23′52″N 23°43′31″E)
• Torneå (currently Alatornion kirkko) in Tornio (65°49′48″N 24°09′26″E)
• Puolakka (currently Oravivuori) in Korpilahti (61°55′36″N 25°32′01″E)
• Porlom II (currently Tornikallio) in Lapinjärvi (60°42′17″N 26°00′12″E)
• Svartvira (currently Mustaviiri) in Pyhtää (60°16′35″N 26°36′12″E)

Russia

• "Mäki-päälys" (Mäkipäällys (Finland 1917/1920-1940) in Hogland (Suursaari)
• "Hogland, Z" (Gogland, Tochka Z) in Hogland (60°5′9.8″N 26°57′37.5″E)

Estonia

• "Woibifer" (Võivere) in Väike-Maarja Parish (59°03′28″N 26°20′16″E)
• "Katko" (Simuna) in Väike-Maarja Parish (59°02′54″N 26°24′51″E)
• "Dorpat" (Tartu Observatory) in Tartu. (58°22′43.64″N 26°43′12.61″E)

Latvia

• "Sestu-Kalns" (Ziestu) in Ērgļu novads (56°50′24″N 25°38′12″E)
• "Jacobstadt" in Jēkabpils (56°30′05″N 25°51′24″E)

Lithuania

• "Karischki" (Gireišiai) in Panemunėlis (55°54′09″N 25°26′12″E)
• "Meschkanzi" (Meškonys) in Nemenčinė (54°55′51″N 25°19′00″E)
• "Beresnäki" (Paliepiukai) in Nemėžis (54°38′04″N 25°25′45″E)

Belarus

• "Tupischki" (Tupishki) in Oshmyany district (54°17′30″N 26°2′43″E)
• "Lopati" (Lopaty) in Zelva district (53°33′38″N 24°52′11″E)
• "Ossownitza" (Ossovnitsa) in Ivanovo district (52°17′22″N 25°38′58″E)
• "Tchekutsk" (Chekutsk) in Ivanovo district (52°12′28″N 25°33′23″E)
• "Leskowitschi" (Leskovichi) in Ivanovo district (52°9′39″N 25°34′17″E)

Moldova

• "Rudi" near Rudi village, Soroca district (48°19′08″N 27°52′36″E)

Ukraine

• Katerinowka in Antonivka, Khmelnytsky Oblast (49°33′57″N 26°45′22″E )
• Felschtin in Hvardiiske, Khmelnytsky Oblast (49°19′48″N 26°40′55″E )
• Baranowka in Baranivka, Khmelnytsky Oblast (49°08′55″N 26°59′30″E )
• Staro-Nekrassowka (Stara Nekrasivka) in Nekrasivka, Odessa Oblast (45°19′54″N 28°55′41″E )

Struve Geodetic Arc Media

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  Tartu Old Observatory, the first point of the arc.

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  The commemorative plaque of the arc in Felshtyn, Ukraine

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  The Geodetic Point in Rudi, Moldova

Other websites

Media related to Struve Geodetic Arc at Wikimedia Commons