Where on Earth (Week 7) Volgograd!

by Neil Woodburn on

Congrats go out to Beanie, John, Barb Steadman, Bo and James for all correctly guessing that the above statues reside in the city of Volgograd, Russia. The memorial commemorates the horrific battle that was fought here in World War II back when the city was named Stalingrad.

I had the opportunity to visit a few years ago and found a very peaceful and lovely city. This is partly because nearly the entire thing has been rebuilt since the war when every building was flattened as both Stalin and Hitler ordered their troops to not surrender.

The result was the loss of 1.5 million lives and the dubious honor of being one of the deadliest battles in all of mankind’s violent history.

Today, the above memorial has been built atop Mamayev Kurgan, the highest hill in the city (check it out here on Google Earth). Wandering through the complex is a very sobering experience as dozens of gigantic statues stoically stand their ground against the Nazis. Patriotic Red Army songs are piped out of hidden speakers and fill the air with a sense of horror, sacrifice, and Slavic manliness.

The centerpiece of this complex is the massive Mother Russia statue seen in the distance. This enormous structure stands 270 feet tall and is one of the tallest statues in the world. By comparison, the Statue of Liberty is only 154 feet tall.

No one does war memorials quite like the Russians and I therefore recommend checking one out if you ever find yourself in the country. Nearly every city has one, but none compare to that which is found in Volgograd.

Where on Earth? (Week 7)

by Neil Woodburn on

These are just two of many statues which line this very famous memorial. Many soldiers and civilians died here in heavy fighting and the area has become a somber memory of the horrors of war. Although every single person from the country where these statues stand would recognize the location immediately, these iconic figures are less well known elsewhere.

Do you have an idea where on earth this might be? Take your best shot by plugging your guess in the comments section below. You’ll have to do better than merely guessing the country, however. You’ll have to name the city itself.

The correct answer will be revealed on Friday. Good luck!

Where on Earth? (Week 6): Zurich, Switzerland

by Justin Glow on

Two of our readers got it right this week, but there can only be one winner. Congratulations go out to David Troyer for being the first to know the location of the photo above as Zurich, Switzerland. A warm thanks to Flickr user, ubiquity_zh, for capturing this stunning image of Switzerland’s largest city.

And no, it’s not a photograph of the first tornado to ever hit Zurich (actually, Switzerland does get the occasional twister). It’s smoke rising from a factory near the shores of Lake Zurich. The photo is titled “Feinstaub III,” which literally translates to “fine dust.” It’s a term that’s concerned with the quality of the air, and seeing the plume of smoke rise over the beautiful lake with the Swiss Alps standing silently in the background, you gain a better understanding of why the photographer chose such a title.

See you next week for another edition of Where on Earth.

Where on Earth? (Week 6)

by Justin Glow on
Can you guess where on earth this photo was taken?

City, state, country, building, neighborhood — be as specific as possible! A single winner will be chosen and announced on Friday based on how close they get to the correct answer. Good luck!

Where On Earth (Week 5): Cape Point

by Willy Volk on

This week’s Where on Earth stumped some people, confused some others, and was a breeze for one person: Bob. This image of directional signs, shot by Desired, is located at Cape Point, in South Africa.

At the tip of the Cape Peninsula – 36 miles southwest of Cape Town – the rugged rocks and sheer cliffs here “divide” the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Though often called the southernmost tip of Africa, this is not true. Cape Agulhas, 90 miles east, is the true southernmost point; Cape Point is the most southwesterly point on the continent.

I visited Cape point in 2001 and was overwhelmed by the fresh salt breezes (coming straight from the Antarctic), the verdant landscape, the blazing beaches, and the sheer walls of the Point. It was amazing. Boasting 250 species of birds and more than 1100 species of indigenous plants, this area is home to a variety of other animals, too — including some very aggressive baboons who will swipe your snacks if you’re not careful!

If you ever find yourself in Cape Town with an extra day, be sure to get yourself down to the Point and have a look around. It’s certainly a detour worth making.