Maupertius muistomerkki
Maupertius memorial
Why locals love it
French mathematician and astronomer Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis travelled in the Tornio River Valley in 1736 – 1737. He was accompanied by, Alexis Claude Clairaut, Charles Étienne Louis Camus and Pierre Charles Le Monnier, who were astronomers as well. The group also shared other interests, mathematics in particular.
Why you should visit it
At the time, Finland was a territory of the Swedish kingdom. The goal of the expedition was to perform measurements that would determine whether the Earth was round or flattened at the poles. The expedition left its mark both on the history of science and on the traditional lore of the Tornio River Valley.
Special tip
There is a nature trailto the sight, sight is located in the middle of the forest area. Terrain is hilly.