Pontianak City is one of the areas passed by the imaginary equator. To mark it, dibangunlah a monument that has Tugu Equator (Equator Monument).
Historically, development of the monument became the icon of Pontianak was started in the year 1928, together with an international expedition led by a geography expert berkebangsaan Netherlands to determine the imaginary equator. At that time, the building is simple, ie, the form of a milestone that marked a direction arrow. In the year 1938, architecture monument Silaban renovate and add a circle at the top of the tonggaknya. New in 1990, with the intention to protect tugunya the original, the local government initiative to build a dome. Then, at the top of the dome is made duplicate monument with size five times larger than the size of the original monument.
In March 2005, a team from the Pengkajian and Application of Technology (BPPT) correct location of the zero point the actual equator. After a series of depth, the team concluded that from BPPT position 0 degrees, 0 minutes, 0 second and appeared to be about 117 meters to the Kapuas River from the current location of this monument.
This monument shows that Pontianak City is passing by the equator 00 latitude. This monument at first time was built in 1928 by Astronomical Expedition Team from Dutch. And 1938, it was re-built with some improvement by Opzicter Silaban, an architect. In 1990 this monument had been re-built for the second time by duplicating it in bigger size. The size was five times bigger than the original and its purpose to protect the original statue.
The monument consists of four poles, a sketch of world with an arrow.This building was accredited on September, 21 1991.Every march 21-23 and September 21-23, at midday, the sun passes over the equator line or the culmination; therefore, it makes the shadow of that monument and every other erected things around the statue disappeared, other words the monument and the other things are in the position of without shadow. This monument is located in Batulayang sub district, North Pontianak district, the distance from the center of the town is more or less 5 km. it can be reached by land transportation such as by cars or water transportation through Kapuas river such as by motorboats or speedboats.
The monument consists of four poles, a sketch of world with an arrow.This building was accredited on September, 21 1991.Every march 21-23 and September 21-23, at midday, the sun passes over the equator line or the culmination; therefore, it makes the shadow of that monument and every other erected things around the statue disappeared, other words the monument and the other things are in the position of without shadow. This monument is located in Batulayang sub district, North Pontianak district, the distance from the center of the town is more or less 5 km. it can be reached by land transportation such as by cars or water transportation through Kapuas river such as by motorboats or speedboats.
B. Specialties
Equatorial line through the City of Pontianak is the only line of the equator in the world exactly earth split horizontally into the north and the south. So, standing in the zero latitude is there in the monument is certainly a pride for the visitors.
Uniquely, the monument is made of ironwood, not from cement, building as monument or monuments in general. Visitors may view the original building tugunya, see the documentation of the history of the monument from the beginning until now, so that visitors can obtain a basic knowledge about earth science and astronomy. Here, there is also an information board that shows the visitor statistics for both domestic and foreign.
This monument is visited by many tourists at the time of the occurrence of phenomena meridian sun bersiklus twice a year. Cycle that occurred on March 21-23, called Vernal Equinox (first intersection) as a sign of early spring, while cycles that occurred on September 21-23 is called the autumnal equinox (the intersection) as a sign of early autumn.
Although only about 5-10 minutes, to see objects directly in the vicinity of the monument does not have shadows, of course, cause a sensation that it is difficult to be depicted shape. To celebrate these two moments, usually in the monument held a variety of activities, attractions such as the traditional local arts, painting exhibitions, and so forth.
Only with pay Rp 10.000, - only, visitors will get a certificate as evidence that he ever visited the Tugu Equator. On the certificate there is a photo of the signature and the Mayor of Pontianak.
In the afternoon, the area once this is used as a place to relax with family or simply to remove the tired after working all day. At night, the more eksotisme this area feels. Location of the garden, visitors can enjoy the beauty of the Kapuas River sweep. Flickering light from the Kapuas River opposite increase the attractiveness of this tourism object.
C. Location
Monument is in the Equator Equator Road, Siantan Kelurahan, Kecamatan Pontianak Utara, Kota Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia.
D. Access
Location Tugu Equator is about 5 kilometers north of Pontianak city center. City of Pontianak, visitors can ride the city bus or transportation to the location of the monument is.
E. Ticket Price
Visitors are free of charge.
F. Accommodation and Other Facilities
Tugu area around the Equator there are various facilities such as mosques, restaurants, restaurants, cafés, souvenir shops, a wide parking area and safe, and the homeless and hotels with various types.
