The most basic answer is that it is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 kilometers, which yielded the first accurate measurement of a meridian arc. The chain was established and used by the German-born Russian scientist Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve in the years 1816 to 1855 to establish the exact size and shape of the earth.
This arc helped to establish the exact size and shape of the planet and marked an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographic mapping. It is an extraordinary example of scientific collaboration among scientists from different countries, and of collaboration between monarchs for a scientific cause. The original arc consisted of 258 main triangles with 265 main station points, today UNESCO has saved and preserved 34 of the original station points.
At the end of the day all the scientific details are simply above my pay grade, I basically understand it was a point along a large arc that was used to estimate the diameter and size of the earth in the early 1800's...
As the monument was just a short 10 minute walk from our docking point in Hammerfest, I will say it was well worth the visit. The brisk winter air coupled with the fresh snow fall and amazing views all play into the reason not to miss this stop!
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