Archive for March 24th, 2006

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

Caerphilly Castle

Friday, 24th March 2006 by

Caerphilly Castle is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain after Windsor castle. It is also one of the largest fortresses in Europe and is cunningly surrounded by shallow lakes to slow attackers and prevent tunnelling.

Unlike most of the other castles in Wales Caerphilly was not build by Edward I during his crack down on Welsh resistance. It was instead built in 1271 by Gilbert ‘the Red’ de Clare, a powerful nobleman of Norman descent who was squabbling with another nobleman of Welsh origin, Llywelyn.

Caerphilly Castle

Thanks: Tom

Giant Triangle

Friday, 24th March 2006 by James

Here’s a mystery for a Friday morning - why is there a giant equilateral triangle in the desert near the city of Surprise, Arizona? And why does the city have such a silly name?

It looks to me like it could be an old airfield but it could, of course, be aliens!

Thanks: Craig Simpson