Border Europe

Border between Europe and Asia

Now Ekaterinburg is known as the city which stands in two parts of the world, on the border between Europe and Asia. It is a known fact that Europe and Asia meet on the Ural Mountains, but it was not always so. Historically the border between Europe and Asia changed its location. Greeks considered Balkan Peninsula to be the border between Europe and Asia. In Medieval Russia, the Don River was the border between two parts of the world. Later the Volga River served as a frontier. In 1730, Swedish scientist Johann Philip Stralenberg stated that Europe-Asia border went along the Urals. In 1736 the Russian historian and geographer (founder of the city Yekaterinburg) Vassiliy Tatishev supported Stralenberg. Now this is a world-wide accepted fact. The border extends for 5524km. It stretches for 2000 km along the Ural Range, 2534 km along the River Ural, and 990 km along Caspian Sea. The frontier between Europe and Asia goes near Ekaterinburg along the Old and the New Moscow Highways and crosses the part of the official territory of the city. Several signposts mark the Europe-Asia frontier. The oldest obelisk was erected in 1837, in 40 kilometers from Ekaterinburg. The marble pyramid was toped with gilded eagle with two heads.

The new Monument at border Europe-Asia

This monument was destroyed after the revolution and in 1926 a new granite monument was built on its place. Traditionally guests of the Ural visit this landmark, on the 40th kilometer of New Moscow Highway. Though, the local authorities of Ekaterinburg took decision to make the image of border more attractive for tourists and erected a new obelisk, closer to Ekaterinburg. A new obelisk stands on the 17th km of the Moscow Highway. It was unveiled on August 20, 2004. Its composition presents two huge stones. One stone was taken from the furthest point of the European part, Cape Rock, another stone was delivered from the furthest point of the Asian part, Cape of Deghnev.

These stones symbolize the union of two parts of the world. Every visitor can get there the Certificate of the Border Trespasser. The tourist centre will be built there soon. Although, the new obelisk is a controversial question. Actually the Europe-Asia border crosses the Moscow Highway on the 20th kilometer and not on the 17th kilometer. Anyway, tourists can visit both of these obelisks and stand with one foot in Asia and another foot in Europe.