Lithuania Geodetic Arc FDC

Lithuania FDC
Name: The World Heritage Objects: The Struve Geodetic Arc
Date of Issue: 24 October 2009

Denominations:
2 Lt: Triangulation Chain of Struve Arc
2 Lt: Point in Meškonys of Struve's Arc

Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve (1793–1864), the professor of University of Tartu in Estonia developed methodology for measuring the arc of the meridian of the earth. He composed a triangulation chain of 258 triangles with special markings firmed on top. This chain was later named Struve Geodetic Arc in honour of the professor.

The establishment of Struve Geodetic Arc in 1816–1852 is one of the greatest and most impressive attempts to determine the exact size and shape of the earth. The triangulation chain passed through territories of ten countries – from the northernmost European city Hammerfest in Norway to Ismail in Ukraine at the Black Sea. The Arc crosses Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russian Federation, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. The fragments of this triangulation chain, which extended through the mentioned countries 2822 kilometres, were used for the calculation of the arc of meridian.

In the territory of Lithuania 3 points of Geodetic Arc out of 18 present in the country are marked: one in Rokiškis district (Gireišiai village) and two in Vilnius district (Paliepiukai and Meškonys villages).

From 2005 the Struve Geodetic Arc was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List. The Struve Geodetic Arc is the first trans-national nomination in the World Heritage List, introduced by ten states.

On June 16 2006 the geodetic point in Meškonys was introduced to the public.