Struve Geodetic Arc

This is one of the few sites that are shared by several countries. It's curious to think that when this chain was made it crossed only two countries, now it crosses ten! It's not easy to find postcards of all...

Struve Geodetic Arc point in Belarus

This postcard was sent by Kate

The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 km, which yielded the first accurate measurement of a meridian.

Simuna and Võivere points in Estonia

This postcard was sent by Pihlakas

The chain was established and used by the German-born Russian scientist Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve in the years 1816 to 1855 to establish the exact size and shape of the earth. At that time, the chain passed merely through two countries: Union of Sweden-Norway and the Russian Empire. 

Tartu Observatory (top right), Estonia

This postcard was sent by Marco

The Arc's first point is located in Tartu Observatory in Estonia, where Struve conducted much of his research.

Oravivuori Triangulation Tower, Finland

This postcard was sent by Arja

In 2005, the chain was inscribed on the World Heritage List as a memorable ensemble of the chain made up of 34 commemorative plaques or built obelisks out of the original 265 main station points which are marked by drilled holes in rock, iron crosses, cairns, others.

Rudi Geodetic Point, Moldova

This postcard was sent by Hanko

Measurement of the triangulation chain comprises 258 main triangles and 265 geodetic vertices. 

Fuglenes point in Hammerfest, Norway

This postcard was sent by Jo

The northernmost point is located near Hammerfest in Norway and the southernmost point near the Black Sea in Ukraine. - in: wikipedia

Hogland, Z point in Russia

This postcard was sent by Vadim

The Struve Geodetic Arc is an extraordinary example of the interchange of human values in the form of international scientific collaboration, as well as an outstanding example of a technological ensemble. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1187/

Stara Nekrasivka point in Ukraine

This postcard was sent by Sergii

I'm still missing postcards from Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden