The Meridian Column stands on a small hillock near Hammerfest's town centre, marking the northern endpoint of the Struve Geodetic Arc — a monumental nineteenth-century scientific project to measure the shape of the Earth. The column was erected in 1854 at the conclusion of the survey, making it one of the oldest geodetic monuments still standing.
The UNESCO World Heritage designation (granted in 2005) reflects the arc's importance to the history of science: it was the first international scientific collaboration spanning multiple countries, and its measurements were accurate to within metres using only triangulation and the naked eye. The column itself is a modest stone obelisk that requires a short uphill walk — but the views over Hammerfest harbour and the surrounding fjord from the hillock are an excellent reason to make the climb regardless of the history.