---
title: "The vertical earth kilometre"
url: "https://visit.kassel.de/en/poi/the-vertical-earth-kilometre"
description: "A work of art with a radical \"non-visibility\"With the \"Vertical Earth Kilometer\", the American artist Walter De Maria created a key work of land art and conceptual art in 1977. It consists of a vertical borehole 1,000 meters deep, into which 167 brass rods screwed together are sunk. The work is largely hidden from view: all that is visible is the five-centimeter-wide circular area of the rod diameter in the middle of a sandstone base plate. The invisible work is intended to encourage people to think about the earth and its place in the universe."
language: "en"
type: "Place"
image: "https://dam.destination.one/2843973/25444d8ecd62539cfb5ea9a475f1d69da9343d2b15dc24d263895b0d1d261593/.jpg"
breadcrumb: "Root > Visit Kassel > Special > Destination.Data Details > Poi"
---

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The vertical earth kilometre
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- documenta-artworks

Since documenta 6 in 1977, Walter De Maria's "Vertical Earth Kilometer" has led 1000 meters into the depths of Friedrichsplatz.

 A work of art with a radical "non-visibility"With the "Vertical Earth Kilometer", the American artist Walter De Maria created a key work of land art and conceptual art in 1977. It consists of a vertical borehole 1,000 meters deep, into which 167 brass rods screwed together are sunk. The work is largely hidden from view: all that is visible is the five-centimeter-wide circular area of the rod diameter in the middle of a sandstone base plate. The invisible work is intended to encourage people to think about the earth and its place in the universe.

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Stadt Kassel

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0.64 km

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Friedrichsplatz

34117 Kassel