Contest #150 answer: Canal Ring, Amsterdam

This weeks contest was to celebrate that last week the Amsterdam Canal Ring Area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The canal rings were constructed at the 16th and 17th century.

The particular area on which the contest was zoomed in, is known as De Gouden Bocht (The Golden Bend) and is one of the most prestigious parts of the area.

gouden-bocht

A lot of good answers and a lot of plusses for those who knew the nickname.

  • hhgygy +
  • Pascal Gilbraith +
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Dennis S.
  • Ben
  • Natalie Stockard
  • David Kozina +
  • KD
  • Dylan Baker
  • Michael Kennedy
  • ACG
  • Meladi
  • Kate +
  • BroderUlf +
  • David S +
  • Paul Franson +
  • charlie my boy
  • Ivar Bonsaksen +
  • Andy M, USA +
  • Blue Marble Safari (Nick) +
  • John Honeywell +
  • Sanghoon Han +
  • lardarz
  • Sarah G +
  • alyca +
  • Max_Power
  • Andy Murdock
  • Michael T +
  • Willem
  • Neil +
  • ej +
  • Taliesin +

And at the end of this series, both Taliesin and Milosh from Serbia scored 10/10, but Taliesin beat Milosh on the plusses. Cheers!

Contest #149 answer: Surtsey, Iceland

Surtsey was created during a volcanic eruption which lasted from 1963 to 1967. In 2008 it was admitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

surtstey

There is no human activity on the island, only a small number of scientists are allowed to enter and a lighthouse, a small hut and a webcam are the only signs of human activity.

surtsey1

Those who witnessed the birth of this island:

  • Paul Franson
  • David Kozina
  • Andy Murdock
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • hhgygy
  • Taliesin
  • BroderUlf
  • Michael Kennedy
  • Max_Power

Contest #148 answer: Gebel Kamil Crater, Egypt

The Gebel Kamil Crater is one of the most recent impact craters found on Earth (about 5000 years old). It was first discovered by scientists of the university of Sienna (Italy) who were scanning Google Earth at a low orbit and confirmed by expeditions in 2009 and this year. The crater is located at 22.018333, 26.0877

kamil_crater

The scientific paper was published on July 22, so I thought it might make a nice challenge before the news would hit the mainstream media, but news travels fast nowadays: only a few hours after I put up the contest, Wired ran an article about this crater and so did National Geographic. The meteorite who caused the crater is listed here.

Correct answers (a ‘+’ for those who came up with  the correct crater name)

  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • hhgygy +
  • Taliesin +
  • Dennis S. +
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • Skip +
  • David S +
  • Andy Murdock +
  • Exsanguinator
  • David Kozina
  • Sarah G +
  • Paul Franson +
  • Graham Foxall
  • Ben Bayer
  • Willem
  • Andy M, USA +
  • BroderUlf +

Contest #148

Nothing to see here, you might think. Unless you zoom in on the centre and this appears:

148_centre

Contest #147 answer: Shanghai, China

This weeks contest was focussed on Shanghai, China. We were hovering above the new Pudong district with the distinct Oriental Pearl Tower clearly visible.

shanghai-pudong

The little ‘green blob’ is the location of an all glass cylinder which is the entrance to the recently opened Apple Store.

pudong_apple

A lot of good answers this week (the + indicates a correct answer on the Apple Store question)

  • hhgygy +
  • D Hall +
  • Milosh, Serbia +
  • David Kozina
  • LawnBoy
  • Paul Franson +
  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • Sarah G +
  • ConnieL
  • lardarz
  • David S +
  • BroderUlf +
  • ACG
  • Exsanguinator
  • Ecahe
  • Andy Murdock +
  • John at Dreamwidth +
  • Andy M, USA +
  • Barbara E
  • Dennis S. +
  • Taliesin +
  • Ernesto Posse
  • Andy McConnell +
  • Steve Jaycocks +

Contest #147

For an extra challenge: can you name the little green blob in the centre of the picture?

147-1

Contest #146 answer: Soccer City, Johannesburg, SA

This stadium, Soccer City (‘Sokkerstad’ in Afrikaans), was the theatre of the FIFA World Cup 2010 final last Sunday, won by Spain.

soccer_city_johannesburg

The stadium was completed in 2009 and houses up to 88,500 supporters. It was upgraded from the former FNB stadium, which will be the name again after the 2010 final.

Those who won this final:

  • hhgygy
  • Taliesin
  • Pascal Gilbraith
  • LawnBoy
  • Willem
  • Barbara E
  • KD
  • Malcolm
  • Milosh, Serbia
  • SuperXIX
  • Paul Franson
  • Jan Depczynski
  • David Kozina
  • Andy M, USA
  • ACG
  • John at Dreamwidth
  • Sarah G
  • Dennis S.
  • Exsanguinator
  • BroderUlf
  • David S
  • Michael T
  • Andy Murdock
  • Ian
  • D Hall
  • Anwyn