Arka, National monument in Klaipeda, Lithuania
Arka is a monument in Klaipeda made up of two granite columns, one red and one gray, connected by an arching element at 8.5 meters high. The two parts are linked together across public space, with a visible gap left in the arch's design.
The monument was unveiled in 2003, marking the 85th anniversary of the Act of Tilsit and the 80th anniversary of the Klaipeda Revolt. These were key moments in the region's path toward independence and national identity.
Words by writer Ieva Simonatyte are inscribed on the monument, stating "We are one nation, one land, one Lithuania" in the local language. Visitors can read these words and feel the expression of national unity embedded in the public space.
The monument sits near Tiltu Street in central Klaipeda and is open to the public at any time of day or night. Its location right in the town center makes it easy to visit and view from different angles.
The broken section of the gray arch intentionally represents the Kaliningrad region, while the red column stands for Lithuania Minor and the gray one for Lithuania Major. This layered symbolism tells a geographic story through the monument's physical form.
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