Author: Andrew

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Contest #515: the University of Alberta Botanical Gardens, near Devon/Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

The University of Alberta Botanical Gardens are located just southwest of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and consist of 240 acres of gardens and natural areas.

Built starting in 1959, highlights of the garden include the Kurimoto Japanese Garden; a Tropical Showhouse with exotic butterflies; Temperate and Arid Showhouses; extensive alpine, herb, rose, peony, lilac, lily and primula collections; Native Peoples Garden; trial beds and much more.

It contains a diverse variety of plants, with emphasis on cold-hardy plants that can survive the harsh extremes of a Zone 3 climate.

The Gardens are open from May to Canadian Thanksgiving in early October.

Japanese Gardens

Maze

Rose garden

Found this gem in the wilderness for 2 points:

  • Lighthouse
  • Eloy Cano
  • Garfield
  • Phil Ower
  • Blaze

And with the hint;

  • Andy McConnel
  • hhgygy
  • Glenmorren
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Contest #511: the wall they call El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, USA

Another wall contest – this time a 900 metre monster in Yosemite National Park in California, USA.

It has been a climbing challenge for years, with The Nose in the Centre of the contest image at first conquered in 1957 in a monstrous 47 day effort.

Climbs by groups now can be done in a few days or for those going fast, a few hours.

A route named Freerider was recently climbed in about 4 hours, incredible to me as a non-climber.

An article on the first free climb of El Capitan

Found this wall:

  • Glenmorren
  • Lighthouse
  • hhgygy
  • Phil Ower
  • Eloy Cano
  • Garfield
  • Jeather
  • Chris Nason
  • mehmet durmus
  • Ridicully
  • Andy McConnell
  • Steve Hoge
  • David Kozina
  • Rodrigo Jurado
  • Tuxedo Jones

After the hint:

  • LawnBoy
  • Ben S
  • Declan Moore
  • donaaronio
  • Rob de Wolff
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Contest #511 Hint

A horizontal view would make this contest very easy – but you will have to wait for the reveal post to get that.

While waiting, think about early attempts taking days and then about someone doing this in less than 4 hours.

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Contest #507: Tigre de Cristal casino, near Vladivostok in far eastern Russia

While it might look like a truck stop, this weeks location is actually the new Tigre de Cristal casino complex near the city of Vladivostok in far eastern Russia.

It was built primarily to serve Chinese gamblers who wanted a location closer than Macau. It has been a mixed success, with construction issues and gamblers complaining it is too cold!

Hitting the jackpot for 2 points:

  • Eloy Cano
  • Phil Ower

After the hint:

  • Garfield
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Contest #506: the town at the Argyle diamond mine in northwest Australia

Contest #506 shows the small town that helps support the huge Argyle diamond mine in northwest Australia.

The mine opened in the mid-1980’s and is the world’s largest producer of pink diamonds, now being coveted after years of being thought to be just dirty.

The mine is slated to close in a few years as the supply of diamonds runs out. It started off as an open pit mine but is now mainly underground.

Found this gem in the desert without any problem:

  • Eloy Cano
  • hhgygy
  • Lighthouse
  • Phil Ower

After the hint:

  • ashwini agrawal
  • rob de wolff
  • Garfield