Navel of the World Monument in Kungur, Granite hemisphere sculpture in Kungur, Russia

The Navel of the World is a granite hemisphere set on an inclined pedestal on the Sylva River embankment, beside the monument to the pioneers. Around it a wind rose is oriented to the cardinal points, and its outer circle gives distances from Kungur to Perm and to world capitals such as Moscow, Paris, Tokyo and Beijing.

The granite hemisphere was designed by A. N. Makhmudov and made by the Perm Fund of Sculptors under the programme "Kungur — Centre of Culture of the Perm Region". It was unveiled on 24 November 2007 at the crossing of seven roads. In 2008 it won an internet contest for the most unusual monument of the Perm Region, and in 2011 first place in the "Best Existing Tourism Site of the Volga Federal District" contest, category "Best Monumental Art Object".

The name plays on the idea of Kungur as the centre of the world: the granite hemisphere sits where seven roads meet, including the Sylya river route. Around it a wind rose points to the cardinal directions, and the outer ring gives distances from Kungur to Perm and to world capitals such as Moscow, Paris, Tokyo and Beijing.

The monument is centrally located in Kungur and easily accessible on foot, especially when in the downtown area. Visitors can pass by and take photographs at any time, as the surrounding public space remains openly accessible.

The outer ring of the wind rose gives distances in kilometres from Kungur to Perm and to world capitals such as Moscow, Paris, Tokyo and Beijing. The spot was chosen because seven roads meet here: car, pedestrian and river routes along the Sylva.