In Geography, Antipode of any place on Earth is the point on the Earth's surface which is diametrically opposite to it. Two points that are Antipodal to one another are connected by a straight line running through the center of the Earth. Zero Milestone Monument in Nagpur is considered as the centre of our country from which India spreads out in all the directions. So can we find the Antipode of Zero Milestone located on the other side of the world?
Just imagine - we start digging a hole from Zero Milestone in a straight line passing right through the centre of earth and get to the other side. Where will we end up from the other side of this huge tunnel? On which face of earth?
The Geographic Co-ordinates of Zero Mile, Nagpur are 21 08' N(Read as 21 Degrees and 8 minutes North), 79 04' E. So in order to find the antipode we have to move 180 Degrees in both latitude and longitudinal lines. So the approximate coordinates of the Antipodal point come out to be 21 08' S, 101 04' W. If we locate this point on Google Earth we land up Deep Inside the South Pacific Ocean. This is the place:
This Godforsaken place is located in one of the deepest parts of the ocean. This place is almost 13000 ft below the sea level. The nearest land which is the Western Coast of the Continent of South America is almost 25 longitudinal degrees away approximately amounts to almost 2500 kilometers. Imagine 2500 kms of sea in between you and the nearest land mark, probably the coast of Peru. You will be closer to the beautiful islands of Galapagos.
This calculation is based on my estimates; so the exact antipodal point may vary by couple of hundred kilometers. But here’s a scientific fact. If you decide to jump in to this huge tunnel from Zero milestone then you will accelerate towards the center of earth because of Gravitational force. As you go pass the center of the earth, gravity will act as a decelerator and your speed will go on decreasing and you will come to a stop exactly on the surface of the antipodal point in exactly 42 minutes. This is not approximation, this is Newtonian Science!! (Unless you get burned up while reaching the earth's core!)
Photo Courtesy: Google Earth
Author: Abhijit Ranade
