Contest #119 answer: Saint Pierre et Miquelon

Kudos to all who found this. It is St. Pierre et Miquelon, a French group of islands near the coast of New Foundland. Ans more specific: zoomed in on the connecting isthmus of Miquelon and Langlade.

langlade

Being French territory close to New Foundland, these islands have been a cause of conflict between the French and British ever since the 17th century. Even at the end of WW2 they caused a conflict between De Gaulle and Roosevelt.

Those who crossed the isthmus:

  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Doc Will
  • Exsanguinator
  • Max_Power
  • Willem
  • Ivar Bonsaksen
  • Camargo, California
  • Neil
  • Falco

Contest #118 answer: Christmas Island

Yes, I admit. It was a bit obvious, but I couldn’t resist it for a December 25th contest. It was Christmas Island, zoomed in on Flying Fish Cove a.k.a. “The Settlement”.

It is Australian territory and has a phosphate mine (from guano manure) as the main economic activity.

xmas_phosphate

Those managed to find Santa:

  • Ivar Bonsaksen
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Neil
  • Camargo, California
  • Andy McConnell
  • Willem
  • Max_Power
  • Falco

Contest #117 answer: Ekranoplan at Kaspiysk, Dagestan

Well, you never cease to amaze me. Lots of you were correct in identifying the ‘plane’ on this picture: it is an Ekranoplan, a large Russian Ground effect vehicle, a.k.a the Caspian Sea Monster and located at the harbour of Kaspiysk, in the Russian Federal Republic of Dagestan

ekranoplane1

ekranoplane2

Click here for an action video of the Caspian Sea Monster.

I recently saw a movie about these vehicles on Discovery Channel and was curious if I could locate one in Google Earth, which resulted in this contest.

Those who were not frightened by the monster:

  • Ivar Bonsaken
  • realpetko
  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • Tetraskelion
  • brian t
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Andy M
  • Camargo, California
  • Doc Will
  • Willem
  • AbbieX
  • Dennis S.
  • JackalWSU#3
  • Jon B
  • Falco
  • Alex
  • ej

Contest #116 answer: Tristan da Cunha

First of all: we have a lot of new contestants. Welcome to you all. If you file your answer, it would be very helpful to leave a last initial or a nickname which is somewhat unique. Furthermore, you might want yo check your answer with the Google Earth imagery to see if they match.

Contest #116 was Tristan da Cunha, as most of you guessed correctly. It is the most remote inhabited spot on this earth: the nearest continent (Africa) is over 2800 km away and the nearest neighbours live on St. Helena, a distance of 2430 km.

Tristan1

Tristan da Cunha was discovered in 1506 by the Portugese seafarer Tristão da Cunha but is only permanent inhabited since 1810. Nowadays there live about 270 residents. Visiting is possible, but not after prior permission from the local Government. The journey by boat (from Cape Town) takes about 6 days.

Tristan2

Tristan da Cunha has its own on-line newspaper: the Tristan Times.

Those who took the journey:

  • Ivar Bonsaken
  • Neil
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Willem
  • Ian
  • Alan
  • Dylann
  • Grievous Body Charm
  • brian t
  • Moke
  • ACG
  • Criswhit
  • Falco
  • Camargo, California
  • Andy M
  • Max_Power
  • Andy McConnell
  • Zev
  • ej
  • Exsanguinator
  • Per Svolsbru
  • Dennis S.