A Blast From The Past: Episode 17

A collection of interesting articles from Amusing Planet’s archives .

World’s First UFO Landing Pad, and the First Landing!

St. Paul, Alberta, a small town in east-central Alberta, Canada has the world’s first official UFO Landing Pad which was built in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s centennial. The 130 ton concrete structure consists of a raised platform with a map of Canada embossed on the back stop, consisting of stones provided by each province of Canada.

Curious Rock Formation of Giant's Causeway in Ireland

The Giant's Causeway in northeast coast of Northern Ireland, is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides.

The Cannonball Tree

The Cannonball Tree (scientific name: Couroupita guianensis) is a spectacular South American tree to be planted in subtropical and tropical botanical gardens throughout the world. The tree got its name from the shape and size of its fruit which resembles a cannon ball. The fruit is large, spherical and woody ranging from 15 to 24cm in diameter. A single tree can bear as many as 200 or 300 fruits.

Original Illustrations of Charlotte's Web

The original illustrations of the classic children's book Charlotte's Web was seen by no one, until now. The book's illustrator Garth Williams kept most of his illustrations for his own, personal collection. When Williams first starting doing illustrations in the 1940s, he would send the original drawings to the publisher, they would get used and then sent back. He kept his returned art during his lifetime. After his death, the family carefully preserved his oeuvre, securing it in a bank vault.

Creative and Funny Toilet Signs from Around the World

Men and women are represented differently all around the world, and this differentiation is often seen in the diverse representation of the two sexes in bathroom signs. The most common type of washroom sign one encounters in public places depict men as “normal” people and women as people in skirts. Depending on the local customs, men and women may be depicted wearing traditional or regional dresses. While most signs try to remain obvious, others goes out of the way and try to be as creative as possible. Below are some of the the most creative, funniest, wackiest and bizarre toilet signs discovered by travellers around the world.

Stunning Wall Murals by Eric Grohe

New York born Eric Grohe creates spectacular and vividly realistic wall murals and architectural facades, transforming ordinary spaces into panoramic works of beauty, depth and inspiration. Grohe uses a special German paint called keim mineral paint which can last 130 years.

Each mural can take several months with Grohe enjoying every brush stroke. "Every project is a grand adventure, if passion for the work and inspiration are your guides," he said. Some of the murals he has painted reach 3,600ft.

Port Lockroy Museum and Post Office in Antarctica

Port Lockroy is a natural harbour on the Antarctic Peninsula of the British Antarctic Territory. Originally discovered in 1903 by a French Antarctic expedition, the port was named 'Port LaCroix' after Edouard LaCroix who helped finance the expedition. Over the years Port Lockroy found use as an anchorage by whalers and in 1944 became 'British Base A', the first of the more than 20 eventual British bases established in Antarctica.