Contest #230 answer: Lake Urmia, Iran

Lake Urmia is the 3rd largest salt water lake in the world. It is situated in the NW of Iran, the Azarbaijan region.
It is drying up fast and becoming increasingly saline.

In the 1970s a causeway across the lake was constructed and left almost finished until 2008, when the remaining 1,5 km was completed with a bridge.

Despite anti-corrosion measurements, the bridge is already heavily rusting.

Those who watched the lake drying out

  • quiltadel
  • mccrumplair
  • hhgygy
  • Skip
  • Paul Franson
  • Sasha Smith
  • steve willis
  • Ger N
  • Paul Voestermans
  • RicardPG
  • Chris Nason

– Hint –

  • Lelie
  • Marisa Boraas
  • ACG

And this ends again another series, with a clear winner with full marks: mccrumplair.
Congratulations, Axl!

Contest #229 answer: Bodie Ghost town, CA, USA

Bodie is the best preserved ghost town in California.
Originally it is a mining town which housed over 10,000 inhabitants at its glory days. (around 1880)

As from 1880 the decline set in and in 1920 Bodie counted not more than 110 inhabitants.

Hmm, it was not as easy as I thought it would be; only 10 right answers:

  • steve willis
  • hhgygy
  • Paul Voestermans
  • mccrumplair
  • quiltadel
  • Ger N

– Hint –

  • Chris Nason
  • ACG
  • Paul Franson
  • Sasha Smith

Contest #228 answer: Natanz Nuclear Facility, Iran

n 2002 the existence of a secret nuclear facility at Natanz was revealed.
It is believed to be a nuclear enrichment facility where enriched uranium is produced to be used in a nuclear weapon.

According to various satellite images, a large part of the Natanz facility is built under the surface and covered with earth and concrete to prevent the place being bombed.

(click the above image for a larger version)

Those who released the Stuxnet worm:

  • steve willis
  • hhgygy
  • Ernesto Posse
  • mccrumplair
  • Meriem

– Hint –

  • Paul Franson
  • Sasha Smith
  • Chris Nason
  • Sandworm
  • quiltadel
  • Skip
  • CIeye
  • Paul Voestermans
  • Marcel
  • Ger N
  • Divine
  • ACG
  • Pascal Gilbraith

Contest #228 hint

There is something hidden under the ground here.

If you change the image date to 2003, you can see the construction of the hidden buildings.

Click the image for a larger version