Llyn Brianne is a man made reservoir on the River Towy, west Wales, which was formed by the construction of the UK’s tallest dam, which at around 90m tall is the world’s largest clay core dam.

Recently the BBC has uncovered that thrill-seeking kayakers have been sliding down the reservoir’s spillway during times of high water, which probably makes this the world’s largest water slide.

This “dangerous” activity has been banned by Welsh Water but, as this video on the BBC shows, it looks like one hell of a way to spend an afternoon.

At the time these images were taken the spillway was in full flow but apparently, at times of low water, a couple of houses that were submerged to make way for the reservoir can be seen protruding from the surface.

Thanks to VGT and the BBC.

More about the Llyn Brianne Reservoir Spillway at Wikipedia.

Namibia’s Skeleton Coast is named so for two different types of skeletons that littered the beaches: whales and ships.

Thanks to the end of mass whaling the whale bones are now all gone, but the bones of ships remain, very slowing rusting away.

For example, the Eduard Bohlen ran aground here way back in 1909.

There are purportedly thousands of ships lining this coast, thanks to the gale force winds, thick fog and ferocious surf.

The Otavi ran aground in 1945, with a load of Guano she was shipping from Mercury Islands.

Once run aground, the sailors are usually also destined to add to the coast’s name, as the previously featured Namib Desert is totally inhospitable.

Despite this, someone once thought it was a good idea to build an oil rig just inland. But just like the whales, ships, and sailors, the rig is now a rotting skeleton.

Since 1971 the Skeleton coast has been a protected National Park, and the old rig does provide good shelter for the local bird population.

The most famous of the Skeleton Coast’s wrecks was the Dunedin Star cruise liner, which sank just off the coast in 1942. The dramatic rescue attempt included the additional wrecking of a rescue boat and small plane, and the whole story is documented in John Marsh’s book Skeleton Coast.

Thanks to sasroodkapje’s fantastic visible shipwreck collection and Artificial Owl, who have ground level images of the oil rig.

There are lots of interesting and weird things to notice around Great Salt Lake, the largest salt lake in the western hemisphere.

First up, the western shore of the lake houses something that appears to belong in a ‘Trivial Pursuit for Giants’ game. It’s actually part of a magnesium plant which at one point was the highest emitter of toxic chemicals in the US.

Just to the north-west are assorted military facilities including bunker entrances and missile storage sites.

On the eastern shore, and on the salt flats, are facilities using the natural resource from the lake – salt farms and mines. Many others can be seen around the lake.

A couple of people with sharp eyes found this plane flying over the middle of the lake.

And one reader is convinced that this is a door to the netherworld.

Let us know what else you can find around Great Salt Lake.

Thanks to Ben, Alex Cleveland, Marty, Brian, Benjamin, James Adams, Nathan S, Graham Wall, Noknok, Leandra.

What is going on here in Grevenbroich, Germany? This shadow appears to be large human heads on a wheel.

It is actually a steel sculpture by George Ettl, entitled Ettlrad, a play on the German word, Schaufelrad, or paddlewheel. According to a translation of the city of Grevenbroich’s website, the wheel symbolizes the wheel of a coal excavator, with human heads rather than shovels.

The sculpture was part of the Landesgartenschau (Regional Garden Show) in 1995, whose principle is, “To heal the earth.” You can really see their smiles in this ground view photo.

Thanks to hati39 for the suggestion.

Here in Marfa, TX, we can see the patterns of 15 Untitled Works in Concrete, a massive concrete installation at the Chinati Foundation, a contemporary art museum conceived and founded by the artist responsible – Donald Judd.

Judd was a minimalist sculptor who purchased this 1.4 km² of desert in 1979 as a non-profit art foundation dedicated to Judd and his contemporaries, like the previously featured (1, 2, 3) GSS favourite Claes Oldenburg.

15 Untitled Works in Concrete actually consists of sixty five-metre-long concrete boxes, which are divided into fifteen differently arranged groups. The entire piece stretches nearly a kilometre across the desert, which might explain why it took Judd four years to complete!

The Chinati Foundation website has some good photos images of the work from the ground.

Thanks to Nathaniel, who has actually eaten lunch inside one of these pieces of art!