The Equator Monument: The Charm of Pontianak City's Landmark

source:BT/ist.

If you ever visit Pontianak, West Kalimantan, make sure you don't miss the Equator Monument. Why is that? Because the Equator Monument is unique not only due to its historical significance but also because of its architectural design and function as a physical reminder to commemorate Pontianak's position crossed by the imaginary line of the Equator.
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The Equator Monument is located on Jalan Khatulistiwa, North Pontianak, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Its location is in the northern part of Pontianak, within the region of West Kalimantan Province. 

The Equator Monument is a significant landmark in the city and serves as a physical reminder to commemorate the city's position crossed by the imaginary line of the Equator. 

The monument has become an attraction for visitors due to its unique aesthetic and philosophical value. It comprises four ironwood (belian) poles.

The Equator is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into two halves, the northern and southern hemispheres, marking the point where the sun is directly overhead and the occurrence of two equinoxes each year. An interesting moment occurs in September when the equinox happens, and human shadows align with the sun, causing no shadows to be visible.

The Equator Monument was originally built in 1928 with a simple design, consisting of a pile of pillars and arrows. In 1930, additional structures were added, transforming the monument into a pillar shape with circles and arrows. In 1938, the monument underwent further renovation under the supervision of Officer Archiech Silaban, resulting in changes to its shape and size.

The monument has become an attraction for visitors due to its unique aesthetic and philosophical value. It comprises four ironwood (belian) poles, each measuring 0.30 meters, with two front pillars standing at a height of 3.05 meters from the ground, and a back pillar in the form of a circle and arrow, serving as a directional indicator, standing at a height of 4.40 meters.

The Equator Monument was originally established during the Dutch East Indies era as a marker for the zero-degree point of the Equator. Construction began in 1928 by a Dutch geographer with a simple design consisting of a stake topped with an arrow.

In 1930, improvements were made by replacing the signs with circles. Further refinement occurred in 1938 under the guidance of an officer/architect named Silaban, resulting in a better-designed monument.

The Equator Monument are significant symbols of the cultural and historical richness of Pontianak. Offering visitors a unique experience to understand the allure of nature and the traditions of the Dayak community in the region of West Kalimantan. *)