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Contest #184 answer: Burning crater near Darvaza, Turkmenistan

In 1971 some geologists were drilling to gas in the Darvaza area of Turkmenistan.
The ground collapsed as they were drilling on top of an underground cavern which was filled with natural gas. They decided to burn the gas in order to gain access to the cavern, but now, 40 years later, the fire is still on.
This burning crater (a.k.a. ‘The Door to Hell‘) is on the internet on some sites wrongfully placed in Uzbekistan, so I approved the ‘Uzbekistan-answers’, but the correct location is in Turkmenistan.
Those who played with fire:
  • hhgygy
  • mccrumplair
  • Lelie
  • steve willis
  • blacbronco
  • Alonso Alfaro
  • Linda G
  • Greg Hauenstein
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • Chris Nason
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • zumsen

-hint-

  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • Paul Franson
  • Sasha Smith
  • Andy M, USA
  • Gillian
  • Sarah G.
  • Graham Foxall
  • Adam Macer
  • Michael Kennedy
  • Chris Arnott
  • Dennis S.
  • Thomas Egan
  • ACG
  • David Kozina
  • Elrober
  • EJ
  • eli
  • Falco
  • José Miguel Diaz
  • Dan W
  • Bill Close
Posted on

Contest #183 answer: Aspendos, Turkey

Aspendos, built around 1000 BC, was one of the most important cities of Pamphylia

It has one of the best preserved Roman theatres, which can be clearly seen at the right of the area.

Originally the capacity of the theatre was 15,000 and until recently it hosted the annual Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival
Those who sung an aria:
  • richard
  • mccrumplair
  • hhgygy
  • Falco
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Paul Franson
  • Sasha Smith
  • steve willis
  • Adam Macer
  • zumsen
  • blacbronco

-Hint-

  • eli
  • Andy M, USA
  • Enrique
  • Graham Foxall
  • EJ
  • Sarah G.
  • Alonso Alfaro
  • Megatro
  • Bill Close
  • alyca
  • Linda G
  • Elrober
Posted on

Contest #182 answer: Rossokha Equipment graveyard, Ukraine

It is almost 25 years ago that reactor #4 of the Chernobyl power plant exploded and a massive amount of radioactive fallout was spread in an extensive area.

Some 1,350 Soviet military helicopters, buses, bulldozers, tankers, transporters, fire engines and ambulances were used while fighting against the nuclear accident and severely contaminated by radiation.
Right answers from:
  • Dennis S.
  • Sasha Smith
  • mccrumplair
  • steve willis
  • Paul Franson
  • hhgygy
  • alyca
  • Michael T
  • Sarah G.
  • eli
  • blacbronco
  • Elrober
  • Lelie
  • Andy McConnell
  • Alonso Alfaro
  • Falco
  • Bill Close
  • zumsen
  • Graham Foxall
  • EJ

-Hint-

  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Paul
  • LawnBoy
  • brian t
  • ACG
  • Andy M, USA
  • Gillian
  • Ray Liao
  • Rolando Marín Monge
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • Skip
  • José Miguel Diaz
  • Linda G
  • richard
  • Neil
  • Megatro
  • Petra Hildebrandt
  • RC
Posted on

Contest #181 answer: Sendai Airport, Japan

Just when I had prepared this week’s contest, the first messages about an earthquake and tsunami rolled in. So I decided to change the contest for this week to the current one, not knowing by then the immense scale of the disaster.

So this is Sendai Airport, which was flooded by the tsunami as can be seen here

There is extensive coverage by Google and other media which publish satellite pictures of the area after the event.
You can download the kml file with the newest imagery with this link.

We have another record of correct answers this week:

  • Ivar Bonsaksen
  • Steve Jaycocks
  • mccrumplair
  • Michael T
  • Lelie
  • steve willis
  • ACG
  • blacbronco
  • LawnBoy
  • Andy McConnell
  • Rolando Marín Monge
  • José Miguel Díaz
  • Josh Muehe
  • Paul Franson
  • Sasha Smith
  • Ray Liao
  • eli
  • Alonso Alfaro
  • Sarah G
  • Linda G
  • Kallikrates
  • brian t
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • hhgygy
  • Cristina
  • Daniel
  • Gillian
  • Ben
  • Exsanguinator
  • Neil
  • D Hall
  • Ashwini Agrawal
  • Falco
  • Bill Close
  • Andy M, USA
  • Doc Will
  • zumsen
  • alyca
  • richard
  • Megatro
  • Dennis S.
  • Graham Foxall
  • EJ
  • Carvas, Portugal
  • Smeulders B.
  • ewen
  • Elrober
  • Greg Peterson
  • David Kozina
  • Joe M

-Hint-

  • Enrique
  • Thomas Egan
  • Andy Geoghegan
  • Michael Kennedy