If you dont want to read all the text, you can watch the video about the center of the world. In 1973, Andrew J. Woods, a physicist with Gulf Energy and Environmental Systems in San Diego, California, used a digital global map and calculated the coordinates on a mainframe system as
Unfortunately, there is no general definition of the “center of the world” since the concept is largely a matter of perspective and can depend on how one defines “world.” Some people may consider the geographical center of the Earth to be the center of the world, while others may consider the center of their own country or city to be the center.
When we look into geography, the Earth’s center is the point which has evenly distributed Earth’s mass around itself. This point is not the same as the Earth’s geometric center. However, it is the point at the exact center of the Earth’s shape. The Earth’s center of mass is located about 1,700 kilometers (1,060 miles) below the surface of the Earth, near the Earth’s mantle. This point is not stable, as the Earth’s mass is not even and the Earth’s shape is not perfectly spherical.
It’s also worth noting that the concept of a “center” of the world is largely a human construct, and different cultures and societies have had different ideas about what constitutes the center of the world throughout history. Some have considered religious or cultural centers to be the center of the world, while others have considered political or economic centers to be the center. Ultimately, the concept of the “center of the world” is largely a matter of perspective and interpretation during modern times.
The question “where is the center of the world?” has been asked by countless people throughout history, and the answers have varied depending on the perspectives and beliefs of each generation. Some have believed that a specific country or region holds the key to this enigma, while others have focused on finding the geographic center of the Earth. In recent times, Turkey, particularly the city of Kırşehir, has been a point of interest for those seeking to find the center of the world. In this blog post, we’ll explore the rationale behind these claims and dive into the concept of the geographic center.
The idea that Turkey may be at the center of the world has intrigued people for centuries With its strategic location bridging Europe and Asia, Turkey has been an important crossroads throughout history. But is there any scientific evidence that Turkey is actually at the geographic center of the Earth? Let’s examine the facts
Defining the Center of the World
To determine if a location is at the center of the world, we first need to define what exactly “center of the world” means There are a few possible definitions
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Cultural Center – A place considered historically and culturally significant. Many ancient civilizations like China, France, and Greece declared themselves the cultural centers of the world.
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Spiritual Center – A place considered sacred and metaphysically powerful. In many religions, certain cities like Jerusalem are deemed spiritual centers.
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Geographic Center – The point on the Earth’s surface that is equidistant from all land borders. This can be calculated mathematically.
Of these, the geographic definition is the most scientifically rigorous way to identify the center point on the globe. So to evaluate if Turkey qualifies, we’ll examine the mathematical calculations of Earth’s geographic center.
Early Calculations of Earth’s Center s have pondered Earth’s geographic center for millennia. In ancient times, many cultures declared their own capitals or sacred sites to be the center, including Rome, Delphi, and Babylon.
In the 19th century, scientific efforts were made to actually calculate the center point. In 1864, Astronomer Royal of Scotland Charles Piazzi Smyth proposed that the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt was at the center, situated at 30°N 31°E. But his calculation methods were rudimentary.
Andrew Woods Pinpoints Turkey in 1973
The first robust scientific calculation of Earth’s center point didn’t come until 1973. Using more advanced computational methods, American physicist Andrew J. Woods determined the coordinates to be 39°N 34°E, located in Turkey about 400 miles north of the Great Pyramid.
Woods used a mainframe computer to analyze a digital map of all Earth’s landmasses. By determining the point with the minimum average distance to all land borders, he pinpointed a spot near the Turkish district of Kırşehir as the geographic center.
How Woods Made His Calculation
Woods’ calculation worked like this:
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He divided the globe into 5,000 sections, with 200 divisions of latitude and 25 divisions of longitude.
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For each section, he determined the average distance to all landmasses on the globe along great circle routes.
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The coordinates with the lowest average distance were deemed the geographic center.
This numerical method allowed Woods to improve greatly on previous estimates. Modern geographic centers are still calculated using similar computational techniques.
Refining the Location in 2003
In 2003, Holger Isenberg performed an updated calculation using higher resolution satellite elevation data. His computed center point was 41°N 35°E, just 186 miles from Woods’ 1973 result.
The proximity of these two modern solutions supports Turkey containing the true geographic center. The exact location may shift slightly based on the latest digital mapping data, but Turkey consistently emerges as the center in computations.
Why Turkey Makes Sense as the Center
Beyond mathematical calculations, Turkey being at Earth’s midpoint aligns with its strategic crossing location between Europe and Asia. Situated on the Silk Road, Anatolia has been a hub of travel and trade since antiquity.
Istanbul uniquely spans two continents, reflecting Turkey’s role linking East and West. The country contains archeological treasures from Roman, Greek, Persian, and Ottoman empires.
So while many regions have claimed to be history’s center, Turkey has both the mathematical and geographic evidence to back it up. Its central positioning has made Turkey a vital crossroads for millennia.
Other Claimants to the Title
Despite the geometric calculations pointing to Turkey, other places still claim to be the world’s center. Just as ancient civilizations did, some areas promote spiritual or cultural centrality.
For instance, in France, the Notre-Dame cathedral and the Abbey of Saint-Martin in Tours have both proclaimed themselves the world’s center. In Italy, the ancient city of Lucca makes this claim based on its history as a hub for Roman roads.
Even in the United States, some have argued that the small town of Lebanon, Kansas is at the geographic center by taking three extreme points of the country and finding the middle. Different methods give different results.
The Search Continues
No doubt the debate over Earth’s center will continue as mapping technology improves. Already calculations have shifted from Egypt to Turkey as data quality increased. But for now, Turkey remains the most scientifically supported contender for the geographic center point of all the world’s landmasses.
The mystic appeal of finding our planet’s focal point will keep people searching for new candidates. But both mathematically and based on Turkey’s history of connecting civilizations, the evidence strongly supports it being central not just to Asia and Europe, but the entire world.
Is Türkiye the Center of the World?
Turkey has long been considered a cultural and geographic bridge between Europe and Asia, thanks to its unique location straddling both continents. Its rich history, which includes the Hittite, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires, has contributed to its reputation as a meeting point of civilizations.
This strategic location has led some to argue that Turkey could be considered the center of the world. It connects the East and West through trade routes and has been a hub for various cultures, languages, and religions over time. However, this notion of centrality is based on historical and cultural significance rather than geographic accuracy.
Kırşehir: The Geographic Center of the World?
The city of Kırşehir, located in central Turkey, has been proposed as the geographic center of the world. This claim stems from research that suggests Kırşehir lies at the intersection of the 39th parallel north and the 34th meridian east. Although it’s intriguing to consider Kırşehir as the center of the world, the concept of the geographic center is not as clear-cut as one might think.
Did you know that Turkey is the geographic center of the world?!
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