He constructed walls, dug tunnels and carved out cave-like spaces throughout the 3, 000-sqft lot, then began covering every surface with mosaics.

BBC: Trash to treasure: The mosaics of Isaiah Zagar

No matter how it began, today the 189sqm of mosaic grotto is a chance to gawp at the 4.6 million cockle, mussel, oyster and whelk shells festooned in elaborate mosaics covering every surface.

BBC: Britain��s most bizarre attractions

Much of that time he devoted to rubbing his skin with alcohol and covering every available surface with white tissues.

ECONOMIST: Strange tycoons

The walls are lined with bulky green and silver machinery, an array of knobs with buttons and switches covering every metallic surface.

BBC: Tallinn��s secret history of espionage

Russia will continue to have the sad distinction of covering 12% of the earth's surface, while attracting only 0.3% of its tourists.

ECONOMIST: Russian tourism

After analysing an unusual but temporary increase in Titan's brightness, Dr Griffith concluded that the most likely explanation was the presence of a thick, reflective cloud, covering roughly 9% of the part of Titan's surface then visible from earth.

ECONOMIST: Comparative meteorology