The story of the Ferris wheel, first invented for the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, is a prime example of human ingenuity in urban environments, which happened to be the theme of our most recent photo contest. Congrats to contest winner Chris Fabregas, who captured this shot of human ingenuity in action on the Santa Monica Pier in California. Santa Monica debuted its Ferris wheel here in 1996 and then adapted it two years later to make it the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel, using clean energy for the ride that propelled about 800 passengers an hour. In 2014 it was replaced with a newer version that sports 174,000 LED lights, providing for glittering nighttime scenes just like this.
Ingenuity in action on the Santa Monica Pier
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Denali National Park
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Taiwan yuhinas in Alishan National Scenic Area
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Polar bears
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National Bird Day
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New York City Marathon
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Chicagohenge
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Classical music takes center stage
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A tale of almonds and bees
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St. Patricks Day
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Papa was a flightless bird
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Did it see its shadow?
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Staring down winter
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Roques de Benet, Els Ports Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
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Aloe in bloom
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Summer huts in winter
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How lovely are your branches
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A bull, some flowers, and a stratovolcano
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Protecting wildlife today and tomorrow
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Mountain hare hopping into Lunar New Year
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A wonderland in winter
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An old celebration for a new season
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Celebrating 200 years of statehood
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Carnival of Venice
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In memory of those lost
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Brocken spectre in Central Balkan National Park, Bulgaria
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Dashing through the snow
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Tree of many colors
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Westerheversand Lighthouse
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Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
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Muskoxen in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway