#22: [11-Dec-23]

#21: [23-Aug-22]

#20: [15-Jun-22]

#18: [23-Aug-19]

#16: [12-Jul-13]

#19: [29-Mar-13]

#15: [23-Nov-12]

#14: [02-Sep-12]

#13: [20-Apr-10]

#12: [22-Jun-09]

#11: [18-Aug-08]

#10: [12-Nov-06]

#9: [21-Oct-06]

#8: [17-Aug-06]

#7: [29-Jun-05]

#5: [02-Mar-04]

#4: [20-Feb-04]

#3: [20-Dec-03]

#6: [14-Jul-02]

#2: [08-Feb-02]

#1: [05-Feb-01]

14-May-2015 -- This is the 9^th out of 12 reports reaching confluence points along the 51°N-line. The story starts from 51°N 14°E.

After a drive of 1 hour and 20 minutes on the motorway 46 in western direction, coming from 51°N 7°E, we reached the vicinity of this confluence at 4:00 PM. The little side road of the Lindenstraße just outside of the town Gangelt is easy to find. It comes as close as 20 m to the confluence point. The confluence is on a fenced meadow with high grass and flowers. We asked at the nearby farmhouse for access, but it was denied because the owners were afraid that their horse might shy. So we stayed outside and documented the confluence from the little road.

In 125 m distance, there is a confluence monument consisting of a rectangular sandstone with an Earth on top. On the lower part, cities located on the 51°N latitude and on the 6°E longitude are listed. There is also an interesting sign informing about the life of Gerhard Mercator. He is linked to this confluence in two ways: first, he has most likely lived in Gangelt during his childhood. Secondly, as a cartographer, he devoted his life to latitudes and longitudes, laying the foundation for our modern UTM map projection. So it is justified to call this confluence “Mercator Point”.

CP Visit Details:

• Distance of car parking: 30 m
• Time to reach the CP from the road: 1 min
• Time at the CP: 4:02 PM
• Measured height: 71 m
• Minimal distance according to GPS: 21 m
• Position accuracy: 3 m
• Topography: flat
• Vegetation: high grass, some spring fowers
• Weather: sunny, 25° C (felt temperature)
• Given Name: The Mercator Confluence

The story continues at 51°N 5°E.