Pysanka - Vegreville, Alberta
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T0SHEA
N 53° 29.503 W 112° 02.193
12U E 431230 N 5927472
The Pysanka (World's Largest Easter Egg) is located at the entrance to Elk Island National Park off 48th Street in Vegreville.
Waymark Code: WMHBE3
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 06/19/2013
Views: 16
I saw this Pysanka stamp featured on the first issued Canada Roadside Attraction series 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.
The Pysanka, Ukrainian Easter egg, is an appropriate symbol for the area since a large percentage of the community can claim a Ukrainian heritage. It was built in 1974 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the RCMP early Ukrainian settlements.
Stamp Specifications:
Product #: 413739111
Layout: Booklet of 8 stamps
Date of Issue: July 6, 2009
Price: $4.32
Denomination: 4 x 54¢
Design: Fraser Ross (semaphor)
Dimensions: 35 mm x 41 mm (vertical)
Gum Type: Pressure sensitive
Illustration: Bonnie Ross
Paper Type: Tullis Russell
Perforations: Kiss cut
Photography: iStock Photo; CanStock Photo; BigStock
Printer: Lowe-Martin
Printing Process: Lithography in 7 colours plus varnish
Tagging: General, 4 sides
Quantity: 4,000,000
Following is some information about the Pysanka:
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.
The Pysanka is 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.
Excerpts: Article by Jake Easton
Stamp Issuing Country: Canada
Date of Issue: July 6, 2009
Denomination: 54 cents
Color: Multi
Stamp Type: Multiple (blocks, etc.)
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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