Struve Geodetic Arc

Finland, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Maldova, Estonia, Belarus, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania 

Missing: Lithuania

The Struve Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through 10 countries and over 2,820 km. These are points of a survey, carried out between 1816 and 1855 by the astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, which represented the first accurate measuring of a long segment of a meridian. This helped to establish the exact size and shape of the planet and marked an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographic mapping. It is an extraordinary example of scientific collaboration among scientists from different countries, and of collaboration between monarchs for a scientific cause. The original arc consisted of 258 main triangles with 265 main station points. The listed site includes 34 of the original station points, with different markings, i.e. a drilled hole in rock, iron cross, cairns, or built obelisks. Source whc.unesco.org

Latvia: Sestukalns and Jekabpils

Thanks to Ms Nadia for sending this card from Spain.

Moldova: Rudi Village

Thanks to Mr Tiago for send this this card from Portugal.

Estonia: Tartu Observatory

Thanks to Mr Patrik.

Norway: Hammerfest

Thanks to Jo Heggland.

Finland: Oravivuori

Thanks to Ms Sini

Finland: Alatornion Kirkko Church

Thanks to Ms Sini

Russia: Gogland Island

Thanks to Mr Vadim

Ukraine: Staraya Nekrasovka

Thanks to Ms Olesya

Belarus: Ossownitza

Thanks to Ms Katya

Belarus: Various Points

Thanks to Ms Lisa.

Sweden: Perra Vaara, Haparanda

Thanks to Ms Merja Deb. Bottom row (L-R) third box is Struve Geodetic Arc.

Finland: Old Rauma

Situated on the Gulf of Botnia, Rauma is one of the oldest harbours in Finland. Built around a Franciscan monastery, where the mid-15th-century Holy Cross Church still stands, it is an outstanding example of an old Nordic city constructed in wood. Although ravaged by fire in the late 17th century, it has preserved its ancient vernacular architectural heritage. source:whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 1991

Thanks to Ms Rutta

Postcard 2

Thanks to Ms Sini.

Finland: Verla Groundwood and Board Mill

The Verla groundwood and board mill and its associated residential area is an outstanding, remarkably well-preserved example of the small-scale rural industrial settlements associated with pulp, paper and board production that flourished in northern Europe and North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Only a handful of such settlements survive to the present day. source:whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 1996

Postcard 1

Thanks to Ms Cristina.

Postcard 2

Thanks to Ms Serpa.

Finland: Petäjävesi Old Church

Petäjävesi Old Church, in central Finland, was built of logs between 1763 and 1765. This Lutheran country church is a typical example of an architectural tradition that is unique to eastern Scandinavia. It combines the Renaissance conception of a centrally planned church with older forms deriving from Gothic groin vaults. source:whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 1994

Postcard 1: Outer view

Thanks to Ms Sointu

Postcard 2: Inside the Church

Thanks to Ms Merci

Sweden/ Finland: High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago

The Kvarken Archipelago (Finland) and the High Coast (Sweden) are situated in the Gulf of Bothnia, a northern extension of the Baltic Sea. The 5,600 islands of the Kvarken Archipelago feature unusual ridged washboard moraines, ‘De Geer moraines’, formed by the melting of the continental ice sheet, 10,000 to 24,000 years ago. The Archipelago is continuously rising from the sea in a process of rapid glacio-isostatic uplift, whereby the land, previously weighed down under the weight of a glacier, lifts at rates that are among the highest in the world. As a consequence islands appear and unite, peninsulas expand, and lakes evolve from bays and develop into marshes and peat fens. The High Coast has also been largely shaped by the combined processes of glaciation, glacial retreat and the emergence of new land from the sea. Since the last retreat of the ice from the High Coast 9,600 years ago, the uplift has been in the order of 285 m which is the highest known ''rebound''. The site affords outstanding opportunities for the understanding of the important processes that formed the glaciated and land uplift areas of the Earth''s surface. source:whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 2000 Extn: 2006

Postcard 1: From Sweden

Thanks to Ms Merja Deb.

Postcard 2: From Finland

Thanks to "mami 67"

Finland: Fortress of Suomenlinna

Built in the second half of the 18th century by Sweden on a group of islands located at the entrance of Helsinki's harbour, this fortress is an especially interesting example of European military architecture of the time. source:whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 1991

Postcard 1

Thanks to Ms Rose

Postcard 2 

Thanks to Ms Katrina

Finland: Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmakhi

This Bronze Age burial site features more than 30 granite burial cairns, providing a unique insight into the funerary practices and social and religious structures of northern Europe more than three millennia ago. Source:whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 1999

Thanks to Sini. Nice matching stamp on Burial Site used.