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Lundgren_pup t1_ivw3vsx wrote

You know, I've never been a big fan of so much public sculpture art, mostly because I probably don't understand or am not smart enough to make sense of 99% of it. But every time I drive past these in VT, I think: "Huh. I kind of feel this one." Like it's representing the infinitesimally small point of time we occupy, and even in the middle of the mountains, in a state with no coast line, there were once whales swimming above this spot, and I should remember that, even when I'm on Camels Hump or Mansfield. It was a long time ago, but also wasn't that long ago. And how weird that I'm going to a job site on this ridge, digging through layers to put in a septic tank, and those layers are actually a sea floor, and in the scheme of things, not that long ago. What I'm digging through was once where megalodons pooped.

We should all take a moment to reflect on a billion years of prior poop whenever we're putting in a new septic tank.

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sound_of_apocalypto t1_iw01fzo wrote

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Hitchcock

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WikiSummarizerBot t1_iw01ig4 wrote

Lake Hitchcock

>Lake Hitchcock was a glacial lake that formed approximately 15,000 years ago in the late Pleistocene epoch. After the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated, glacial ice melt accumulated at the terminal moraine and blocked up the Connecticut River, creating the long, narrow lake. The lake existed for approximately 3,000 years, after which a combination of erosion and continuing geological changes likely caused it to drain. At its longest, Lake Hitchcock stretched from the moraine dam at present-day Rocky Hill, Connecticut, to St. Johnsbury, Vermont (about 320 kilometres (200 mi)).

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smigglesworth t1_ivw2n5r wrote

Most beautiful exit in Vermont IMO.

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pocketlily t1_ivw7o7s wrote

It’s awfully distracting how lovely the view is driving through that stretch of 89.

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smigglesworth t1_ivw8rkd wrote

Best is taking the exit and driving down into town. It’s a wonderful view and fun little town.

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iammikeDOTorg t1_ivxy88d wrote

Yes! Great coffee shop, beautiful library, arts hall, award winning Thai, amazing sandwiches, ice cream and bake shops coming soon.

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smigglesworth t1_ivyb67h wrote

Yes!!! Don’t forget the local theater and amazing fudge. Plus Bent Hill Brewery has a great spot nearby too.

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iammikeDOTorg t1_iw04m8e wrote

It’s clear all my friends are on Reddit. Hey, y’all!

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varadins t1_ivvowgi wrote

What's the story behind these?

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Generic_Commenter-X t1_ivvvhtp wrote

My guess is that they're inspired by the ones in Burlington, which have been in Burlington for years. I'd love to see them in other corners of Vermont. [Edit:] Fine. Okay. I just read an article. Seems the ones in Burlington were originally on this spot and the artist made new ones to replace the ones moved to Burlington.

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Neptunianbayofpigs t1_ivwj84v wrote

I was about to say, as a guy who's still salty about the Whale Tails leaving Randolph...

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dmcginvt t1_ivwln7l wrote

I was shocked but not dismayed by the developmet behind the ones on 89 going to Burlington. Vermonts big enough that im not against dev in many areas. Just wanted to say I was shocked!

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Generic_Commenter-X t1_ivy6iga wrote

Yeah, that's really bummed me out as well. Those used to be beautiful fields behind the whale tails and you would commonly see people hiking to the tails on a Sunday afternoon. Now that's all gone. I don't know what's going on, but it looks like transfer stations for semi-trucks with enough lighting to wake the dead.

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deadowl t1_ivw16k9 wrote

Yep, different materials, different shapes.

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Generic_Commenter-X t1_ivw1tfy wrote

I was just imagining how to build some in front of my house with the PT 2x stock that I have.

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No-Tomorrow1576 t1_ivvwggq wrote

I heard that area (if it’s the ones in Williston/Burlington) was under water a long time ago

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Generic_Commenter-X t1_ivvuzrx wrote

These are the ones overlooking Randolph. They're just off 89. I like how the artist tweaked their positions as compared to the ones in Burlington (the originals) that have been there for decades. I don't know the reason for the original sculptures but I like to think it's because whales used to swim in Champlain. Probably easy to research but in this case ignorance is kinda fuzzy and warm.

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No-Tomorrow1576 t1_ivvwagz wrote

These look like the whale tales on I89 in Williston

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