The Struve Arc (Ivatsevichi point).

The Struve Arc is a unique geodetic project created in the 19th century under the leadership of the Russian astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve. It is a network of 265 triangulation points stretching for 2,820 kilometers from Norway to Ukraine through the territory of ten countries. The aim of the project was to determine the exact parameters of the Earth: its shape and size. The Struve arc has become one of the greatest achievements in astronomy, geodesy and cartography, and its results are still considered accurate with an error of only a few centimeters.  

There were originally 31 Arc points on the territory of Belarus, but only 19 have survived to this day (according to some sources, 22). Five of them are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Three such settlements are located in the Ivatsevichi district: in the villages of Velikaya Gat, Dolgoe and in the city of Ivatsevichi itself. In Ivatsevichi, the checkpoint is located on Shibelnaya Gora, named so in memory of the tragic events of 1864, when the rebels were executed here. Today, this place is marked only by an old cross, reminiscent of the past.  

The points of the Struve Arc were stone cubes, pyramids, iron crosses or niches in the rocks. Interestingly, when exploring the preserved sites, fragments of glass bottles were often found — evidence of the tradition of Belarusian surveyors to celebrate the completion of work.  

The Struve arc is not only a scientific achievement, but also a symbol of the human desire for knowledge. Its creation required tremendous efforts: geodesists, astronomers and workers worked in difficult conditions, from the Scandinavian mountains to the Belarusian marshes. In 2005, UNESCO recognized 34 of the most preserved points of the Arc as a historical and cultural heritage, emphasizing their importance to world science.  

Today, the Struve Arc is a reminder of the triumph of the human mind and scientific achievements that continue to inspire new generations.