"Goofy" might be a better descriptor, but these seabird statues lining an outer wall of an Ecuadorian cathedral are called "grotesques"—the architectural term for a statue ornamenting the side of a building. But hang on…don"t we call those "gargoyles"? Not exactly. Gargoyles are simply grotesques that boast a specific, practical feature: spouts that convey water from rain gutters away from the building.
A grotesque scene
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Jeju Island, South Korea
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Aurora borealis
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National Lighthouse Day
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Mapping courage in the Seventh Ward
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Colorful houses of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
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Art and soul
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Santo Antão Island in the Republic of Cabo Verde
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Mangrove Conservation Day
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Spring equinox
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Once upon a midafternoon dreary…
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Wildlife Conservation Day
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Spire Cove in Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska
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Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
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Cherry blossom season in Tokyo
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West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut
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Welcome to the Ring of Fire
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World Honey Bee Day
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A big birthday for Big Bend
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Happy Halloween!
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Overseas Highway, Florida Keys
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Ancient art in the Amazon
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International Sloth Day
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Happy International Day of Forests!
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Spring equinox
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Cinco de Mayo
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Cousins Day
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World Bee Day
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Ruins of Inca temples and terraces on Huayna Picchu, Peru
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Mountains fit for a queen
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Winter at Valley Forge
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

