Archive for May 26th, 2005

Google Sightseeing takes you on tour of the world as seen from satellite, using the free Google Earth program, or Google Maps in your web browser. Each weekday your guides James and Alex present new weird and wonderful sights as suggested by readers.

The editors: James & Alex

Brooklyn Bridge

Thursday, 26th May 2005 by James

Opened on May 24 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first bridge to link Manhattan and Brooklyn and is now crossed by an average of 350,000 people a day. Look to the North for an interesting image registration problem visible - you’d get a fright driving down that road!

At the foot of the Brooklyn side is The River Café, a restaurant that has a “romantic view like no other” of the Bridge and the East River. My fiancé and I have booked a table for Sunday brunch when we visit the states this September so I’m looking forward to trying the Brooklyn Bridge pudding.

Brooklyn Bridge

Thanks: Alex, Jake, daniel, Bigyank, Ryan Weston & Catriona

The Clarence Buckingham Fountain

Thursday, 26th May 2005 by Alex

Dedicated in 1927, the Clarence Buckingham Fountain was a gift to the city of Chicago by somebody I’ve never heard of, to her brother Clarence. Apparently.

Much more interesting is that it’s the fountain featured in the opening credits of Married With Children! What’s also quite cool is that the fountain’s night-time light shows are actually used to be controlled by a computer located in Atlanta, Georgia (but have now moved to Chicago I’m afraid).

The fountain is in Grant Park, and judging by the large wet patch on the ground I’d say that the Windy City had a fairly strong southwesterly blowing that day! Also, check out the colour of the water, very cool.

Clarence Buckingham Fountain

Thanks to Peter, Justine, David Drexler, Rick Baer, Marcin and Chris Granger.

World’s Tallest Water Sphere

Thursday, 26th May 2005 by James

The World’s Tallest Water Sphere in Union, New Jersey. Apparently a tower in Edmond, Oklahoma is taller and holds more water, but technically that design is a water spheroid. Union’s Water Sphere is still the tallest true water sphere. More facts about the tower at Dan Becker’s fan site.

Water Sphere

Update: I know you were all dying to see the world’s largest water spheroid, so here it is! ;-)

Edmond Water Spheroid

Thanks: Jay Soffian & B.Dalton