The 16th Meridian

It passes some other countries in Europe and Africa, but only in Croatia, the 16th meridian stops in Zagreb. A fun fact for a visitor, and a fact that evokes a sense of pride in the locals. Don't be surprised to occasionally bump into the word meridian in some local businesses' names - it must be that the meridian is passing just next to them. 

Back in 1987, the International University Games took place in Zagreb. The city took this as a serious opportunity for advancement in many areas. The facelift of the city in preparation for the big sports event was unprecedented. It was a time when many imaginative initiatives promoted the city's identity, including the marking of the meridian. For most of the residents, that was the first introduction to the notion that it was there, and ever since, the fact has been taught in schools to kids from an early age. 

Photo description: Up until recently, I was certain this was where the meridian was passing through.

At the time, they even managed to detour the meridian in a way: the location of the monument to the meridian wasn't very accurate. The marking is some three hundred meters west of the actual line. This discrepancy is not ideal, but it's close enough, and it's a good way to fill up a wide empty surface on a busy crossroad. The monument is quite invisible unless you get close. If you do, it's engaging as it invites you to use its walls as benches. 

For years, Zagreb Tourist Board has been collaborating with local high schools through a programme called The Culture of Tourism. The programme invites students to create projects that could be of interest to tourists. About a decade ago, the School of Surveying took part in the programme with a project dedicated to the 16th Meridian. They calculated the locations of the meridian accurately. The results came as a surprise to me. I grew up hearing the rumours that the actual location was 100 m west of the monument. There is even a small pyramidal tribute to the civil protection services nearby, and there have been rumours that it was the accurate location. I was disappointed to find out that the meridian was not where I had thought it was. 

Photo description: Prirodoslovna škola Vladimira Preloga high school lies on the meridian, some 300 m east from the marking.

How do you feel about the meridian passing through Zagreb? It means something to the locals, although it's hard to wrap our minds around what exactly it means. When talking to visitors, I haven't really gotten an impression that they think much of it. So, what's the big deal? Could Zagreb be in an ideal location that is a part of a perfect global web? If you look at the map of Zagreb, you would spot the river Sava dividing the northern and southern parts of the city quite mercilessly. And then, if you take a better look, you'll notice the imaginary line that connects them back together. The line doesn't care about the river, just like it doesn't care about the Baltic Sea up in the north. The thought of being interconnected with the northernmost and southermost points of the Earth, even if it's with an imaginary thread, gives an extra layer to the sense of the city. Doesn't it?

Photo description: The meridian marking.

Author: Iva Silla