This is The Whispering Wall at Gawler in South Australia. This parabolic shaped dam wall has a fascinating feature. If you follow the shape of the wall right across to the far side , then look very carefully, you can see a small group of people on the far side. They were talking to the group of people seen on this side - by whispering their words into the wall of the dam!!
That is interesting, especially because I suppose that the shape of the dam has been determined by structural considerations only. I have just googled it, and so I have learnt that this phenomenon was first explained by the end of the 19th century for the gallery around the dome of St Paul's Cathedral in London, and also that you do not necessarily ear the whisper if you stand at an intermediate point on the dam but only at the two ends.
@30pics4jackiesdiamond Thanks Jackie - I appreciate the magnitude of your comment - awesome is a word that I do use much too often - probably just laziness! :)
@gilbertwood Hi Denise - that's about when we first saw it too - it hasn't changed but the area around it is really nice now - lovely picnic area and views over the water. Worth a visit.
@etienne Hi Etienne - thanks for all of that extra information - it would be so good to be able to test out the halfway point concept but unfortunately they only have the little platforms at each end. My husband said that the shape reflects from each point along the surface so maybe when you are only half way around you just don't receive enough waves of sound to be able to hear it. It's so interesting! Thanks again. Cheers Rob
Hi Jacqueline and Denise - last time we were there we did it ourselves - it really is quite weird! This time there was a group of students there - their teacher was on the other side - the kids had no idea of what was happening. It was hilarious to watch them when they heard his voice!! :) @jacqbb@lyndemc
@jacqbb @lyndemc