Carving Dead Trees Into Public Art

Trees have long life spans, but eventually they too die of old age or succumb to diseases or get damaged in thunderstorms and hurricanes. When trees in urban spaces die and show signs of toppling over or breaking off, the city might decide to remove them for the safety of those around. The remaining stumps then provide a wonderful opportunity for wood carvers to showcase their talent and liven up the neighborhood at the same time.

Semaphore: The World’s First Telegraph

A Chappe semaphore tower near Saverne, France. Photo credit: Hans-Peter Scholz/Wikimedia

Smoke signals and beacons have been used to relay messages over short distances since ancient times, but the only reliable way to send messages over long distances

Fort Alexander, Saint Petersburg

The city of Saint Petersburg at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea, was once protected by a string of forts across the gulf. Most of these forts were constructed in and around the island of Kotlin