As I noted recently, the highest and lowest elevations in the continental United States are only about 80 miles apart. What I didn’t say at the time was that I came across an interesting image as I researched that fact.
A Restroom!
Yes, a restroom sits here at the Badwater Basin in Death Valley. That puts it as the point of lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere. Visitors can relieve themselves at 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level. What a strange and unlikely spot!
Usually I try to keep Twelve Mile Circle a little more highbrow. Even so, I’m not beyond pandering for some humor now-and-again. After all, by far the most popular 12MC article involved a satellite image of the family outhouse. So it was actually a somewhat serious discussion about the use of GPS technology for genealogy. Nonetheless, a popular blog featured it because of the outhouse as far as I can tell.
This time, no such case. I spotted a building on satellite view set amongst miles and miles of flat, white landscape. Then I drilled-in closer to learn more. Once identified, I wanted to know if I’d discovered something new. After all, this is a rather impressive find. No other public restroom — or any other building for that matter — sits at a lower elevation anywhere else throughout an entire continent.
Restroom Ratings
I learned that not only has someone already discovered and noted this remarkable fact, there’s even a photograph and a review of the restroom interior. The name of the website? — I swear I’m not making this up — Restroom Ratings. It bills itself as “a special spot on the web for public restroom reviews from around the world.” [UPDATE: unfortunately this wonderful resource no longer exists].
Some people review movies, other review restaurants, this one reviews restrooms. Now, that’s got to be a niche readership.
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