April 27, “The Polar Meridian’, a documentary, will be screened in the Lendok open studio. The film was produced by the Ryazan regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society and Innoko films studio and was granted by the Society.
The story was inspired by expeditions of Ryazan scientists to Spitsbergen (Svalbard) in 2014 and 2016. They followed a historical route that was made by members of the well-known expedition of 1898-1902, when Russian and Swedish scientists measured the polar meridian arc curve for the first time in the history.
The hypothesis that earth is flattened at the poles was made by Isaak Newton in XVII century. It required 300 years to prove it. A special technique of triangulation measurements was designed, and the measurements were made in various latitudes in XVIII-XIX centuries. It was necessary to make measurements in Polar Regions; and Spitsbergen, the nearest land to the North Pole, was chosen for that. Thanks to the heroic efforts of Russian and Swedish scientists in 1898-1902, measurement of the curvature of the earth's geoid was completed. Studying the places of historical measurements, the Ryazan expedition passed along the shores of the archipelago, and then deepened into the inner regions of Spitsbergen. The main task was to find a network of geodetic signals - stone pyramids and metal structures installed on tops of mountains. In fact, the scientists had to repeat the mission of their predecessors. Experiencing difficulties in long pedestrian crossings, undergoing dreadful dangers of falling into ice cracks or meeting Arctic predators, the members of the expedition managed to find 42 signals.
The story is built on the intersection of two lines: modern and historical. It describes both the scientific work and scientists’ confrontation with Arctic harsh conditions in the past and in the present. In addition, the film tells about living on Spitsbergen, including the Russian settlements of Barentsburg and Grumant.
Presentation of the documentary “The Polar Meridian” in Moscow. Photo by press service.
Mikhail Malakhov, a polar explorer, Hero of Russia, chairman of the Ryazan regional branch of the Russian geographical society and head of the Polar Meridian project will present the film.
Date and time: April 27, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
Address: Lendok Studio (St. Petersburg, Kryukov Kanal embankment, 12).