The World's Largest Easter Egg - Vegreville, Alberta
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T0SHEA
N 53° 29.503 W 112° 02.193
12U E 431230 N 5927472
The World's Largest Easter Egg is located in Vegreville just off 48th Street.
Waymark Code: WMH1KB
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 05/06/2013
Views: 11
First, it must be said that this is no longer the World's Largest, as it was built in 1974 and has since been surpassed in size by a 48 foot egg in Alcochete, Portugal. The egg was consigned by the town of Vegreville as their commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was designed to turn upon its single support pole with the wind, like a weathervane. It wasn't by whim that the weathervane characteristic was incorporated into the design - this was to reduce wind loads on the support structure by always having the sculpture turned into the wind.
I saw this featured on a Canadian Postage Stamp several years prior to our trip to Alberta. Once I saw the stamp I knew that some day I would have to see it for myself. We were not disappointed.
If you are near Vegreville, this is a must see.
The dedication message is written in four languages: English, Ukrainian, French and German. It reads: "This Pysanka (Easter Egg) symbolizes the harmony, vitality and culture of the community and is dedicated as a tribute to the One-Hundredth Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who brought peace and security to the largest multi-cultural settlement in all of Canada.
Following is some information about the World's Largest Easter Egg:
Vegreville, Canada is the site of the largest Easter egg in the world. The Easter egg or Ukrainian 'Pysanka,' was constructed in 1975 to commemorate early Ukrainian settlements in an area east of Edmonton.
The unique nature and complicated geometry of the egg shape made the design of the Pysanka a highly complex undertaking. Professor Ronald Resch, a computer scientist at the University of Utah, agreed to take on the design project.
Professor Resch was responsible for the entire Pysanka concept which required the development of new computer programs. The Pysanka is really an immense jig-saw puzzle containing 524 star patterns, 2,206 equilateral triangles, 3,512 visible facets, 6,978 nuts and bolts, and 177 internal struts.
World Recognition:
As a result of Professor Resch's work and leadership, the Pysanka is recognized around the world as not only a unique artistic masterpiece but also an achievement of nine mathematical, architectural and engineering firsts. The design represents the first computer modeling of an egg.
Thousands of tourists from around the world visit Vegreville annually and marvel at the Pysanka. It measures 25.7 feet long, 18.3 feet wide, and stands 31.6 feet high. It is one of the premier tourist attractions on the Trans Canada Yellowhead Highway.
The 2,000-pound aluminum skin is attached to the central mast at a 30-degree angle with 177 turnbuckle struts. Cessco International Ltd., Edmonton, fabricated the massive internal structure which weighs 3,000 pounds. The Pysanka rests on a 27,000-pound base of concrete and steel and turns in the wind like a weathervane.
Symbolic Meaning:
Paul Sembaliuk, an authority on traditional Easter egg design, used three colors - bronze, silver and gold - to symbolize prosperity. Bronze is the predominant colour of the design and suggests the "good earth", the land on which our forefathers struggled for survival and existence.
Five distinct symbols make up the design. The radiating gold stars on the end sections symbolize Life and Good Fortune. The three-pointed stars, in alternating gold and silver, symbolize the Trinity, representing the strong devotion to the faith of our ancestors. The band of silver circumscribing the Pysanka, with no beginning or end, symbolizes Eternity.
On the central barrel section, gold and silver windmills with six vanes and points symbolize a Rich Harvest. The most prominent motif of the design - the silver wolf's teeth which point to the centre from the silver band - symbolize the main message of protection and security afforded our pioneers by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Article written by: Jake Easton
Title of Piece: Pysanka
Artist: Paul Maxum Sembaliuk
Material/Media: Aluminum
Date of Creation or Placement: 1974
Location (specific park, transit center, library, etc.): Pysanka Park
Web link(s) for additional information: [Web Link]
Web link(s) to YouTube or other video: [Web Link]
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