Meridian Column
Meridianstøtta
This column marks the northernmost survey point of the Struve Geodetic Arc. A UNESCO World Heritage Site on the seashore of the Fuglenes peninsula, it is Hammerfest's landmark.
Between 1816 and 1855, German-born astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve led the measurement of a meridian arc running from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea. The survey was used to calculate the shape of the Earth precisely. The arc is about 2,820 km long and was inscribed as the Struve Geodetic Arc on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2005. The granite column on the Fuglenes peninsula in Hammerfest was erected in 1854. Its top is a bronze globe marking the northern end of the survey chain. Nearby rocks still bear survey markers from the time, along with a UNESCO plaque. It is about a 15-minute walk from the Hurtigruten quay, and along the harbour you can see the town opposite and Melkøya island. The site is open free of charge all day. The coast is very windy, and in winter watch for icy paths.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Fuglenes Peninsula & Lighthouse
- Hammerfest Church
- Museum of Reconstruction for Finnmark and Nord-Troms
- Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society
- Salen Viewpoint
- Mikkelgammen
- Tyven
- Kvaløya Reindeer Summer Pastures