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| The antipodes as depicted in a manuscript of the "Topographia Christiana" (Kosmas Indicopleustes, 6th century AD) |
For some inexplicable reason the
adults of my childhood were all in agreement that the end of any tunnel started
in South Africa will be somewhere in China. How often have I heard: “If you
keep digging here you’ll have to start learning Chinese. When you pop out on
the other side of the earth all those Chinese will be standing around the hole
looking in and you’ll have to explain to them what you are doing there.”
Suffice to say that I kept my holes fairly shallow.
It is the sort of information
that you put away as you grow up only to be taken off the shelf again when you
have children or grandchildren digging holes in the garden.
This week I discovered that we are
all a little off the mark with our calculations. By a few continents actually. And
such digging through the centre of the earth right down from where you stand
has a very fancy name.
Faithful old Wikipedia puts it
thus:
“The antipodes of any place on the Earth is the point on the Earth's surface which is diametrically opposite to it. Two points that are antipodal to each other are connected by a straight line running through the centre of the Earth. An antipodal point it is often called an antipode.”
Well, what do you know!
You can even use an antipodes map on the internet (https://www.antipodesmap.com/) that
will tell you in no uncertain terms where you’re heading should you start
digging. What I mean is that it will provide your antipode to the exact
latitude and longitude. And fortunately so, because it seems that the majority
of the inhabitants on earth have to be better prepared when setting out on such
a venture. The chances are very good that you’ll pop out on the other side on
the bottom of the sea.
My antipode turns out to be smack bang in the Pacific
Ocean 1055 km north west of Honolulu and 2879 km from the Californian
coast.
Ever since I’ve stumbled onto the
antipode concept earlier this week I have been fascinated by it.
I think it has to do with the
fact that I know there is an exact point on the face of the earth that is
linked so specifically to me at this point where I am right now, and I actually
know nothing about it. Part of me, totally unknown to me.
Without becoming heavy philosophical
I suspect that my inner being has its share of antipodes too. Right opposite
from where I am now on my inner globe there is something intimately and inseparably
linked to who I am right now. And for
the most part I have very little knowledge of the conditions at that antipode.
The only way to find out is to dig right down straight through the fiery
centre.
Come to think of it, learning
Chinese now seems to be an easy option.
* As a matter of interest:
When people in the Northern Hemisphere talk about "the Antipodes, they usually refer to
Australia and New Zealand.
People
starting to dig in Argentina or Chile are the only ones who will end up in
China.
George
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