Contest #539: the Verkhny Lars Border Crossing between Russia and Georgia

This week, we visited the Verkhny Lars Border Crossing between Russia and Georgia. It is the only border crossing between these two countries and is very busy – as one can see with the long lines of trucks on either side of the actual border.

There are two other border crossing locations but Georgia does not recognize Russians who cross there, meaning the Verkhny Lars Border Crossing is very busy – hence the long lines of vehicles.

At the border is the Ermolov Stone, a large glacial erratic.

Found this unique location:

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

After the hint:

  • donaaronio
  • Glenmorren
  • Rob de Wolff

Contest #538: 4444 (steps), Flørli, Forsand, Norway

The Fløritrappene is the longest wooden staircase in the world. Following a trolleyway and water pipeline that fed a now-defunct power station, the stairs have become a tourist destination. There are organized races up the stairs, which for the casual tourist, is about a 3-4 hour climb.

Those who clawed their way the top included:

  • Lighthouse
  • hhgygy
  • Glenmorren
  • Jeather
  • Garfield
  • Walter_V_R
  • Phil Ower

And after the hint:

  • mehmet durmus

Contest #537: Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Plant, South Korea

Back in contest #142,we were introduced to tidal power plants in the form of the
‘Barrage de la Rance’ in France.

To refresh, tidal power plants generate energy using the motion of tides to push and pull floats which then turn turbines. Rance has 24 turbines which create a total of 240 MW, which was enough to hold the title of “Largest Tidal Power Plant in the World” for about 45 years.

Then, Shiwa Lake Tidal Power Plant was built in 2011. Shiwa was built to take advantage of a seawall gone awry. The seawall was built in 1994 to create a lake for flood mitigation and agriculture. Unfortunately, the agricultural backflush into the reservoir created a hideous pollution problem, making the water completely unfit for agriculture, as well as making for an environmental disaster. In 2004, sea water was reintroduced to flush out the toxic sludge. In 2007, someone got the idea to use the act of that flushing to create power, and the tidal power plant was born.

Shiwa produces about 254MW from its 10 submerged “bulb” generators.

Those who found this before the hint:

  • Eloy Cano
  • mehmet durmus
  • hhgygy
  • Phil Ower
  • Walter_V_R
  • Glenmorren
  • Rob de Wolff
  • Kim Chahnhee
  • Garfield
  • Lighthouse
  • Jesus Rodriguez

and after the hint:

  • Steve Hoge
  • donaaronio
  • David Kozina