This lighthouse is found in the middle of an island where you will find the cutest, most happy marsupial ever photographed.
Merry Christmas!!
Contest #947
Contest #946 – Orbis et Globus (aka, the Grimsey Sphere), Grimsey Island, Iceland
By Andrii Gladii – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
Grimsey Island is a tiny spit of land about 40KM off the north coast of Iceland. It’s one claim to fame is that it (currently) staddles the Arctic Circle. Part of the Municipality of Akureyri, it is a relatively popular day trip by boat or air from that city in the same way that the 4 corners area of the southwest USA is a relatively popular day trip — the novelty of human boundaries.
In 2017, the Akureyri city government decided to place a monument on the island, an 8-tonne stone sphere called “Orbis et Globus”, along the line where the Arctic Circle crosses the island. Of course, with the tilt of the earth shifting ever so slightly, the location of the circle also shifts. To compensate for that, the city sends out engineers once a year to move the sphere to the circle’s new location (about 14.5 M north per year).
As mentioned previously, the island is pretty small, meaning that there are only so many 14.5 M increments available. In 2047, the Arctic Circle will move north off the island completely. When that happens, the plan is to roll the sphere in to the ocean for one last move.
Those who found this before the hint:
- Garfield
- Phil Ower
- Lighthouse
- Paul Voestermans
- hhgygy
- Martin de Bock
And after the hint:
- Zorro the Fox
Contest #946 Hint
The image in GE is from 2024. Today, the thing in the picture is about 15 meters north, and next year it will be another 15 meters north. In about 22 years, it’s going to get a final bath.
Contest #946
Contest #930 – Sinagoga Major de Barcelona (The Ancient Synagogue of Barcelona), Spain
By derivative work: — Malik Shabazz (talk • contribs)Call.jpg: Mariusmm – Call.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
The Call is the ancient Jewish portion of the gothic quarter in Barcelona. Tucked away in the The Call you will find this little unassuming building, quite possibly the oldest synagogue in Europe. Built sometime during the 3rd or 4th century, this house of worship served as the center of Jewish life in Barcelona right up until Jewish life in Barcelona stopped happening around 1391. At that time, those Jews who were not massacred were forced to convert, and the synagogue became just another house and dyeing business. The nature of the building was lost to time for 6 centuries, until a couple of historians started to trace the route that tax collectors took during the time before the massacre of 1391. They concluded that the tax collectors ended their journey near this site. A review of the building here revealed that this particular building was askew, facing due east rather than the northwest/southeast orientation of other buildings in the area.
The synagogue was returned to its function in 2002, but without regular worshipers. Religiously, it is used for b’nai mitzvah and weddings. The first of those weddings of the modern era occured in 2003 with a couple from Montreal.
Those who searched around and found it as well before the hint were:
- Graham Hedley
- Eloy Cano
- Paul Voestermans
- Walter_V_R
- Martin de Bock
- hhgygy
- Bas van Limpt
- Garfield
- Phil Ower
- bernd
- Lighthouse
And after the hint:
Congrats to Paul Voestermans, Martin de Bock, hhgygy, Lighthouse for a perfect series!!
Contest #930 Hint
Built in the 3rd or 4th century AD, forgotten after about 1400 until rediscovered around 1990, reopened for its original purpose in 2002. A couple from Montreal were married there in 2003.
Contest #930
6.6 M2 or 72 square feet. 4 *SHORT* pews, 2 bibles and a guest book. You might be able to squeeze 6 people in here, but it won’t be comfortable. Living Water Wayside Chapel is contender for the world’s smallest independantly housed church. This tiny building is about 20km north of Niagara Falls on the Canadian side (obviously). Those who picked out before the hint: And after the hint: The smallest according to Guiness, but there are many other contenders out there. If you’re planning a big wedding, you can fit about 6 people here including the officiant, the bride, and the groom.
Contest #929 – Living Water Wayside Chapel, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
Contest #929 Hint