Description of the attraction
The granite benchmark (or it is also called the rock register) is a granite rock located on the banks of the Dnieper in Kremenchug, not far from the central embankment. This rock is a geological natural monument and an old geodetic sign. Until the middle of the 20th century, it was used as a benchmark, that is, a sign that fixes a point on the earth's surface.
The rock is a rock of gray biotite-plagioclase medium-grained magmatites, which are crystalline rocks of the Ukrainian crystalline shield, their age is about 2.5-3 billion years. The rock is located at a height of 5-6 meters above the level of the river. It displays marks that show the highest water level at all times of floods on the Dnieper River, starting from the 18th century. These floods, respectively, occurred in 1789, then 1820, 1845, 1877, later 1888, 1895, 1915, and the last mark in 1942. The absolute mark at the bottom of the cliff is 69 meters. The top of the rock itself is smoothed.
This “rock register” was often mentioned in various publications before the revolution. And since December 1970, the granite benchmark has become a natural monument of local importance, thanks to the decision of the Executive Committee of the Poltava Regional Council under number 555. The total area of the monument is 0.05 hectares or 200 square meters.
The first metal information plaque near the rock was installed in the 80s of the 20th century (approximately in 1983-1985), but by the end of the 90s it was stolen. The next plaque was installed in 2000 and is made of gabbro stone.
About 3-4 billion years ago, these blocks were a hot, boiling and seething mass, and now you can admire these veteran stones right from the embankment.
