Contest #165 answer: Stralsund, Germany

The Hansestadt Stralsund lies in Northern Germany, in the former DDR, near the Baltic Sea and was one of the oldest members of the Hanseatic League.

stralsund

The Church, visible in the contest, is the Marienkirche (St. Mary’s Church) which was at some time the world’s tallest building.

marienkirche

Stralsund is the political home of Angela Merkel, the current Chancellor of Germany.

The historic centre of Stralsund is together with Hansestadt Wismar on the UNESCO World heritage list.

Right answers this week from:

  • hhgygy
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Javier Abadia
  • David Kozina
  • Max_Power
  • Chris Nason

-Hint-

  • Andy McConnell
  • Andy M, USA
  • José Miguel Díaz
  • Sarah G
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • lardarz

Contest #164 answer: Isla Calero, Costa Rica/Nicaragua border

The border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua was shown incorrectly on Google Earth and Google Maps, which was an excuse for a Nicaraguan military commander to order his troops into Costa Rican territory and replace the Costa Rican flag with the Nicaraguan flag.

media_164

At least this is the story that hit the media. In fact, the exact borderline in this area is under dispute between the two countries ever since 1858, as you can read in this post on Ogle Earth blog.

alexander1897

When I put up the contest, Google Earth showed the wrong borderline, which was corrected a few days later (just before the hint came up). You can see the differences in the ‘hint’ post of this contest.  However, Google Maps still shows the wrong border as I write this.

islacaleroborder

Those who successfully invaded their neighbour country
  • hhgygy
  • Chris Nason
  • lardarz
  • Javier Abadia
  • blacbronco
  • Andy McConnell
  • Rolando Marín Monge
  • David Kozina
  • Paul Franson
  • zumsen
  • Malcolm
  • BilliardTraveler
  • Max_Power
  • José Miguel Díaz
  • Andy M, USA

-Hint-

  • LawnBoy
  • Gillian
  • Ben Bayer
  • Ivar Bonsaksen
  • Sarah G
  • Aaron Predeek
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • Elrober
  • Stephen Hope
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Willem
  • Josh Muehe

Contest #163 answer: ‘City’ landsculpture, Garden Valley, Nevada

This is probably the largest landsculpture in the world: Michael Heizer‘s ‘City’ sculpture, Lincoln County, Nevada

city1
It is under construction since 1972 and closed to the public. However when it will be finished, public access will be possible. It is said that Heizer is not amused by Google Earth revealing its exact location, as it triggers trespassers to visit the site before completion.
The New York Times ran an interesting article about Michael Heizer in 2005.
city2
Those who helped in the construction:
  • lardarz
  • hhgygy
  • Chris Nason
  • Andy McConnell
  • Max_Power

-Hint-

  • Andy M, USA
  • Exsanguinator
  • blacbronco
  • David Kozina
  • Javier Abadia
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • ACG
  • Willem
  • BroderUlf
  • Paul Franson