Contest #500: Answers

Hope you enjoyed this special version of our contest. Thanks to everyone for submitting locations and hints and for searching madly for all the locations posted. Thanks also to Paul for his incredible work assembling this post – if you think we’ve made any errors, please let us know.

Hope you had fun with #500. With #501, we will return to the regular one contest location per week.

Here are the 13 answers:

Summary

  1. From Jeather: Blythe Intaglios, Blythe, California, USA
  2. From Robin: Fiat Auto Factory (FCA Poland), Tyche, Poland
  3. From Phil Ower: Seventh Art Cinema, South Sinai, Egypt
  4. From Krenek: Altes Schulhaus Obergottigen, Bern, Switzerland
  5. From Ashwini: Adam’s bridge between India and Sri Lanka
  6. From Gillian B: Phillip Island Nature Park, Australia
  7. From Rob de Wolff: Vasaloppet Starting Point, Berga by, Sweden
  8. From Glenmorren: Cemetière Parisien de Pantin, Paris, France
  9. From Lighthouse: Jeongseon Railbike Station, Gangwon-do, South Korea
  10. From RicardPG: San Pedro de la Nave, El Campillo, Spain
  11. From Donaaronio: Pedro South of the Border, South Carolina, USA
  12. From Garfield: Arthur’s Seat – Chairlift at the Summit, Melbourne, Victoria
  13. From Hhgygy: Yuri’ev Monastery, Novgorod, Russia


We had 4 players that got all 13: Garfield, Phil Ower, hhgygy, and krenek

Congratulations to our series winners Garfield and Phil Ower. Both of them got 16 points in the first 9 contests of the series and all available 26 points in #500 for a total of 42 points.

From Jeather: Blythe Intaglios, Blythe, California, USA

Thought to have been laid sometime between 900 BCE and 1200 BCE, figures including the one in the image are “geoglyphs”, similar to the Nazca Lines in Peru.

Blythe Intaglio (4858).jpg

As you can see, the images are very hard to make out from ground level.

Those who found this one were:

  • Jeather
  • Ashwini Agrawal
  • Lelie
  • donaaronio
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano
  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • JF (after the hint)
  • Robin (after the hint)

back to the top

From Robin: Fiat Auto Factory (FCA Poland), Tyche, Poland

Site of the build of the Fiat 500C, Abarth, and Lancia vehicles, this factory was built in 1992.
Fiat Tychy

Those who found this one were:

  • Robin
  • Ashwini Agrawal
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano
  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • donaaronio (after the hint)

back to the top

From Phil Ower: Seventh Art Cinema, South Sinai, Egypt

So, there’s the story of Dynn Eadel, the eccentric, stoned and rich French artist, hanging out in the desert in the southern Sinai sometime around 2000. Apparently, he started wondering why he couldn’t find a place to watch the movie “Dune” and decided to do something about it. He bought out an old cinema in Cairo and moved all the seats and the screen, along with a generator, out to this barren place.

Some of the local residents weren’t too keen on the idea of this intrusion of the 20th century into their lives, and they sabotaged the generator on opening day. The theater never showed a single movie commercially.

Estonian photographer and blogger Kaupo Kikkas visited the site in 2014 and took these pictures:

Those who found this one were:

  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano
  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • donaaronio (after the hint)

back to the top

From Krenek: Altes Schulhaus Obergottigen, Bern, Switzerland

Woge 500, picture #4 by krenek

“Ausserordentliche Sitzung” (Extraordinary sitting), Oberbottigenweg/Bottigen-Strasse, Oberbottigen, Bern, Switzerland, 46.935717°N 7.350091°E
Artists : Legoville, aka Anna Larocca and Niklaus Strobel
Pictures at Flickr

Those who found this one were:

  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower

back to the top

From Ashwini: Adam’s bridge between India and Sri Lanka

Apparently, Sri Lanka and the Indian mainland were once connected. This is what’s left of that “bridge” — a series of limestone shoals stretching between the two landmasses seperated out like a giant set of dots.

We thought this hint from Ashwini Agrawal was very clear – for those who didn’t get it, go take a look.

Those who found this one were:

  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano
  • Ashwini Agrawal
  • Lelie
  • donaaronio
  • Jeather
  • JF (after the hint)
  • Rob de Wolff (after the hint)

back to the top

From Gillian B: Phillip Island Nature Park, Australia

Experience one of Australia’s most popular attractions at this spot. Each night at sunset you’ll be amazed by little penguins returning ashore after a day’s fishing.

These are the world’s smallest penguin in its natural habitat and can be viewed from viewing stands and boardwalks. As the sun fades in the sky, little penguins waddle up the beach to the safety of their homes in the sand dunes.

Those who found this one were:

  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano
  • Lelie
  • donaaronio
  • Gillian B

back to the top

From Rob de Wolff: Vasaloppet Starting Point, Berga by, Sweden

Vasaloppet (“[King Gustav] Vasa’s Race”) is the mother of all cross-country skiing races. It is the oldest, longest (90KM or 56 Miles), and most participated in cross country ski race in the world. Current King Carl XVI Gustaf has finished the race 3 times.

This location is where it starts

Those who found this one were:

  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower

back to the top

From Glenmorren: Cimetière Parisien de Pantin, Paris, France

The largest cemetery in France, this place has 200,000 graves, some dating back to the 1860s.

The cemetery is located on the “7” metro train, just down from the Stalingrad station (hence, the hint).

Tombe vedrines.JPG

Those who found this one were:

  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano
  • Lelie
  • donaaronio
  • Glenmorren
  • Robin

back to the top

From Lighthouse: Jeongseon Railbike Station, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Who doesn’t want to pedal drive a tiny train to a station that looks like a giant fish?!?!
Who wouldn’t want to have lunch in a giant pair of mating grasshoppers?
All this in one place!


(click here if you can’t see the video)

Those who found this one were:

  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouses
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano (after the hint)
  • Lelie (after the hint)

back to the top

From RicardPG: San Pedro de la Nave, El Campillo, Spain

This church was originally built before the Moor invasion of 711. The Moors tore it down, but the foundation remained and after the reconquista, the church was rebuilt on that foundation. Then, in the 1930s, a dam was planned for the river Esla, so the church had to be moved, stone by stone, to a new location.

SanPedroNave1.jpg

Those who found this one were:

  • Rob de Wolff
  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Eloy Cano
  • Lelie
  • RicardPG

back to the top

From Donaaronio: Pedro South of the Border, South Carolina, USA

In Dillon, South Carolina, just south of the North Carolina border, is this tourist attraction that whoever wrote the wikipedia entry describes as “intentionally campy”. Every employee is referred to as “Pedro”, even the women.

South of the Border (attraction) 1.jpg
By Leonard J. DeFrancisci

Those who found this one were:

  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • donaaronio

back to the top

From Garfield: Arthur’s Seat – Chairlift at the Summit, Melbourne, Victoria

You can take a ride to the summit of this rock and enjoy sweeping views of the Victorian countryside. The original chairlift was built in the 60s and was very recently replaced with The Eagle Skylift.

Those who found this one were:

  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Eloy Cano

back to the top

From Hhgygy: Yuri’ev Monastery, Novgorod, Russia

Russia’s oldest monastery, built in the 12th century. The Soviets let it fall to pieces and World War 2 saw even worse damage befall it. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the church reclaimed the property and have been rehabilitating it.

Novgorod - View on Yuriev Monastery from Volkhov 02.jpg

Those who found this one were:

  • Lighthouse
  • Garfield
  • hhgygy
  • krenek
  • Phil Ower
  • Eloy Cano
  • donaaronio
  • Rob de Wolff (after the hint)

back to the top

Contest #500 Hints

Hints, as received from players:

1. From Jeather:
A North American version

2. From Robin:
Seems appropriate

3. From Phil Ower:
Would have been a good place to watch Lawrence Of Arabia

4. From krenek:
This work of art is located near (less than 10 km) the capital city of a country of approximately 40’000 km2.

5. From ashwini agrawal:
An ancient br..ge

6. From Gillian B:
Every night,
As the sun goes down,
Lots of feet
Come paddling around.

7. From rob de wolff:
Looks different from winter 1520

8. From Glenmorren
From Stalingrad, take Line 7

9. From Lighthouse:
The image shows a mental activity during sleep of a green jumping insect and a special way of locomotion.

10. From RicardPG:
It has more than a thousand years, but less than a century from its relocation.

11. From donaaronio:
Don’t let the name fool you. You won’t find this place in Mexico.

12. From Garfield:
It is NOT the one in Scotland

13. From hhgygy:
This UNESCO WHC site did ok from the 12th century until 1905, had a hard time from then until 1991, and is slowly being revitalized now.

Contest #500 Update

Don’t forget to submit comments prior to May 19 at 2130 UTC to get 2 points for your correct responses.

Then you can submit another comment or comments with the remaining locations before the contest ends May 26 at 2100 UTC.

Contest #500 – more locations than ever

In no particular order… here are your contest #500 images. Paul and I are not to be blamed for difficult ones!

We will extend this contest to two weeks – one week without hints with hints released next Friday at 2130 UTC.

Please submit your answers using number or name below to identify the image. If you submitted a location, we will assume you know where it is and award 2 points automatically.

1. From Jeather:

2. From Robin:

3. From Phil Ower:

4. From krenek:

5. From ashwini agrawal:

6. From Gillian B:

7. From rob de wolff:

8. From Glenmorren:

9. From Lighthouse:

10. From RicardPG:

11. From donaaronio:

12. From Garfield:

13. From hhgygy:

Contest #499: Pedro Martin Ureta’s Forest Guitar, near General Levalle, Argentina

Contest #499 was designed to be fun in advance of number 500.

From Atlas Obscura:
Breaking up the flat agricultural areas of Argentina’s Pampas is a guitar formed entirely out of trees. Stretching for 2/3 of a mile, the multi-colored instrument was created by one Argentine farmer to memorialize his wife who tragically died at the age of 25.
After flying over fields in the Pampas that resembled a milk pail, Pedro Ureta’s wife Graciela suggested they embed a design into their own fields. Ureta never really had time to think about turning his field into a giant work of art, and told her they would put the project off until they both had more time. In 1977, Graciela unexpectedly died from a brain aneurysm, and her dream was lost forever.

Crushed by the loss of his love, a few years later Ureta began working on designing a guitar in his field that could be seen from above by airplane. He settled on the design because his late wife loved the instrument and he wanted to memorialize her on his land.

Working tirelessly to plant and cultivate the trees, Ureta created a perfect guitar shape, complete with a star-shaped hole in the middle. Using mostly cypress trees to form the outline, Ureta used blue eucalyptus trees to accent the strings on the neck of the guitar. Easily visible from airplanes, the guitar brings joy to many who fly over the Pampas.

Ureta himself is afraid of flying and has only seen the guitar he created to remember his companion, Graciela, in photos.

Found, with a bit of music on the side:

  • hhgygy
  • Glenmorren
  • Eloy Cano
  • Ben S
  • Lighthouse
  • Phil Ower
  • marisa boraas
  • donaaronio
  • Jeather
  • Ashwini Agrawal
  • rob de wolff
  • JF
  • Garfield
  • Jesus Rodriguez
  • Lelie
  • Chris Nason
  • David Kozina
  • Robin
  • Mehmet DURMUS
  • RicardPG

After the hint:

  • Gillian B
  • Cid Williams

Upcoming contest #500

Where On Google Earth started in February 2008, and has been providing players around the world with challenging puzzles on a (now) weekly basis.

Contest 500 is one away now, and would like to celebrate this with a different kind of contest – where you get to choose one location each to challenge the rest of the players.

Submit a location (name/lat/lon/scale if important) and a helpful hint. We will number and post all images for everyone to solve. We reserve the right to not use locations that do not meet our standards. We will reveal all hints at the usual date and time (0001 UTC on Wednesday).

Everyone should get at least 2 points, but can someone find them all?

Andrew/Paul