Geographical centre of Europe
Geographical_Center_of_Europe.jpg
There is an ongoing debate as to where the Geographic Centre of Europe really lies. The differing opinions are based on different measurements, and different ways of calculating the final result.
Among locations currently claiming to be the centre of Europe are:
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Historical measurements
Early measurements
In 1775 the Polish Astronomer Royal Szymon Antoni Sobiekrajski published a report in which he stated that the geographic centre of Europe is located in the village (now town) of Suchowola. The methodology he used was to calculate the four furthest points (the corners) of the continent and to ascertain where the lines crossed.
The small town of Rakhiv in the Transcarpathian region of Galicia contains a historical marker and a large stone believed to mark the geographic centre of Europe as measured in 1887 by geographers from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The town today is a part of Ukraine. The interpretation of the worn Latin inscription on the monument is debated, with some claiming that the marker is merely one of a number of fixed triangulation points for surveying purposes established around the territory of the former empire.
German measurements
The Germans, not to be outdone, did their own geographic analysis at the beginning of the 1900s and concluded that the Austrian measurements were incorrect. The German scientists stated that the "true" geographic centre of Europe was in the Saxon capital city of Dresden, near the "Frauenkirche" church . The Nazis capitalized on this claim by proclaiming that Germany was the "heart of Europe." They claimed that as the centre of Europe they were also the centre of European culture, and thus had a predestined right to rule.
Measurements done after World War II by Soviet scientists contradicted the German claim, however, and again proclaimed Rakhov to be the geographic centre of Europe. The old marker in the small town was renewed, and a major campaign to convince everyone of its validity was undertaken.
Current measurements
Poland
Current analysis, using a combination of latitude and longitude measurements from the "geographic extremes" of Europe, places the centre in western Poland. This is supported by calculations based on the Centre of mass method, which uses a combination of population and area analysis, placing the geographic centre of Europe near the city of Toruń, about 250 km east of the border with Germany and 200 km west of the Polish capital, Warsaw.
Lithuania
After a re-estimation of the boundaries of the continent of Europe in 1989, scientists at the Institut Géographique National (French National Geographic Institute) determined that the Geographic Centre of Europe is located at 54°54′ N 25°19′ E.
This point is located in Lithuania, specifically 26 kilometres (16 miles) north of its capital city, Vilnius, near the village of Purnuškės. A monument, composed by the sculptor Gediminas Jokūbonis and consisting of a column of white granite surmounted by a crown of stars, was erected at the location in 2004.
An area of woods and fields surrounding the geographic centre point and including Lake Girija, Bernotai Hill, and an old burial ground, was set aside as a reserve in 1992. The State Tourism Department at the Ministry of Economy of Lithuania has classified the Geographic Centre monument and its reserve as a tourist attraction.
Geographic centre of the European Union
Other locations have claimed the title of geographic centre of Europe on the basis of calculations taking into account only the territory of those states which are members of the European Union.
The 25-member Union, dating from 2004, has a centre calculated by the Institut Géographique National (IGN) to be situated at 50° 31′ 31″ N 7° 35′ 50″ E, in the village of Kleinmaischeid, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.
Using the same techniques, the IGN had earlier identified the geographic centre of the 15-member Union (1995-2004) to be in Viroinval, Belgium, at coordinates 50° 00′ 33″ N 4° 39′ 59″ E, and a monument there records that finding.