It’s great when you realise we haven’t posted classic sites like this. These are the UK Houses of Parliament or technically the Palace of Westminster. Most people will recognise Big Ben which is actually the name of the largest bell in the Great Clock of Westminster at the north eastern end of the building.

The actual clock at the top of the tower was once the biggest in the world and able to strike the first blow for each hour with an accuracy of one second. The actual face of the clock is an iron framework 23 feet in diameter supporting 312 pieces of opal glass similar to a stained glass window. On each of the four clock faces is the latin inscription “DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM” which means “Lord save our Queen Victoria I”.

It has of course featured in many, many films perhaps most famously at the climax of The Thirty-Nine Steps or more recently in the awesome V for Vendetta.

Thanks: Keith T, Andy, Terry Foster, Paul Falstad, Sergio Giraldo, Maciek Godlewski, MDW, Phil and Fiona, Phil Harper, pradera & Will S. (blimey!)

Rio de Janeiro’s location within steep mountains makes it perfect for the sports of hang and paragliders. Here on Pedra Bonita (”Beautiful Rock”) is one of over 50 launch ramps in Rio where those who are brave enough leap off and glide allllllllll the way down to the beach below.

Thanks: Wagner Fajardo

Parked at Gostomel Airport we find the only completed Antonov An-225 Mriya, which is the world’s biggest aircraft! (the American “Spruce Goose” has a larger wingspan, but it only ever flew once, and the Mriya is larger in terms of overall size). Compare its size to those ‘normal’ planes over to the East.

Originally designed to carry space shuttle as part of the Soviet Space Program the An-225 is now available commercially if you happen to need 250 metric tonnes of stuff carried about the world (5 tanks? 8 buses? 1,500 people?). Alternatively, it can carry up to 200 metric tonnes externally on the specially designed “roof-rack”.

There’s loads of ground-level pictures showing the six engines and 32 wheels on air and space.com.

Thanks: Al Cohole, Scott Richardson, Eddie & Paul

These are the Diomede Islands, two islands only 3km apart but one is in Russia, the other in the USA. These islands are right in the middle of the Bering Straights and the international dateline runs right in between them. Therefore, you can stand on the eastern island in Alaska and look into “tomorrow” in Russia, pretty trippy.

The Diomede Islands are often mentioned as likely intermediate stops for some kind of bridge or tunnel spanning the Bering Straits, which would be one big and expensive bridge!

Thanks: Adrian & Gut