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- ISFAHAN, IRAN
Imam (Shah) Mosque
Constructed in the 17th century,
this building is stunning, with
dazzling blue Islamic tiles. The
huge domed roof is what creates
this sonic wonder. Tour guides will
stand underneath the dome and
flick a piece of paper to create
about seven quick-fire echoes:
“clack, clack, clack...” Sound
bounces back and forth between
the floor and ceiling, with the
curved dome focusing the echo,
forcing it to keep moving up and
down in a regimented fashion.
- LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA
Musical road
This peculiar stretch of road creates
a rendition of Rossini’s William Tell
overture (used as the theme song
for The Lone Ranger). The musical
notes are created by a set of
grooves that vibrate the car wheels
like a rumble strip. To get a melody,
the Lancaster road has some
grooves bunched close together
to get high notes, and ones farther
apart to get low ones. The fidelity
might be poor and the melody out
of tune, but I found it impossible
not to smile while driving over it.
- ALTYN-EMEL, KAZAKHSTAN
Singing sand dune
Marco Polo ascribed the boom of
sand dunes to mischievous spirits
creating music with the beat of
drums and the clash of arms.
When you slide down this dune
in Altyn-Emel National Park and
create a sand avalanche, you’ll feel
the surface quaking beneath you
as a loud drone fills the air. Only a
few dunes have just the right type
of sand, as thousands of grains
synchronize their movements and
sing in a coordinated choir.