1709 Traditional Geocache

This cache is temporarily unavailable.

Motorcycledude: This might be gone and I am getting a lot of obvious fake logs from new accounts. Hopefully reviewers can let this one be until the situation in the country regarding the Russian invasion stabilizes.

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Hidden : 3/3/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

This cache is placed near the monument errected in memory of the fallen Swedish soldiers during the battle of Poltava 1709. The monument is made from Swedish granite and was errected by Sweden in 1909.

The Swedish monument

Here at Poltava Swedish king Charles XII (In Swedish Karl XII) had his dream crushed by the Russian tsar Peter I and his army. During the 17th century Sweden had risen to a major military power in Europe. In the early 18th century things were looking increasingly good for Sweden, especially after the great victory at the battle of Narva in 1700. Time and the long distance home however, worked against the Swedish army and after the long winter of 1708 signs of fatigue were beginning to show. On June 28th 1709 the two great armies finally clashed on the battlefield. The 16.500 Swedes fought hard but in the end succumbed to the 42.000 men strong Russian army. The Swedes lost approx. 7000-9000 men (sources vary) during the battle and most of the survivors surrendered to the Russians at Perevolochna two days later. Charles XII managed to escape to Bendery in present day Moldavia (then controlled by the Ottoman empire) with only about 1500 remaining men. He stayed there for several years before returning to Sweden in 1714. Charles XII was killed in battle in Norway in 1718. For more information about the battle, see the related link.

Charles XII is celebrated as one of Sweden's greatest heroes by nationalists. This picture is however questionable. His constant wars cost Sweden dearly both in economic terms and human suffering. It is also his loss at Poltava that marks Sweden's demise as a major power in Europe. Instead it is the men who died in battle, both on the Swedish and Russian sides that derserve to be honoured.

Around the battlefield there are several monuments. There are two momuments honouring the fallen Swedes - one errected by the Russians and this one errected by Sweden itself, made from granite brought from Sweden. The inscription is in both Swedish and Russian and translates "In Memory of the Swedes Who Fell Here in 1709, Erected by Their Countrymen in 1909".

The cache is placed at the foot of some bushes on the outskirts of the area surrounding the monument. It consists of a small plastic container with a log book. Please bring your own pen! The container is big enough for small geocoins.

The cache was placed here when I visited Poltava as a part of a group of 40 geocachers from Sweden.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vafvqr ubyr va fghzc ng tebhaq yriry.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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