<strong>Strange things in the desert:</strong> In western Qatar, strange metallic monoliths loom over the desert.
Strange things in the desert: In western Qatar, strange metallic monoliths loom over the desert.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Artwork in the desert:</strong> The huge steel structures are an artwork called "East-West/West-East" created by American sculptor Richard Serra.
Artwork in the desert: The huge steel structures are an artwork called "East-West/West-East" created by American sculptor Richard Serra.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Obscure location:</strong> Getting there is tricky. There are no signposts, other than this marker pointing the way for camels.
Obscure location: Getting there is tricky. There are no signposts, other than this marker pointing the way for camels.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Serious wheels:</strong> Visitors will need access to an off-road vehicle to drive over the rough desert terrain. Tours operated out of Doha provide car and driver.
Serious wheels: Visitors will need access to an off-road vehicle to drive over the rough desert terrain. Tours operated out of Doha provide car and driver.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Dramatic appearance:</strong> The monoliths rear up over the horizon, appearing to dwarf nearby limestone cliffs.
Dramatic appearance: The monoliths rear up over the horizon, appearing to dwarf nearby limestone cliffs.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Eerie presence:</strong> Stretched out over a kilometer, the four steel sheets add a sense of drama and other-worldliness to the landscape.
Eerie presence: Stretched out over a kilometer, the four steel sheets add a sense of drama and other-worldliness to the landscape.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>View from above: </strong>A scramble up the nearby hilltops, known as <em>jebels</em>, gives some sense of the scale of the sculptures, particularly when a 4x4 drives through the valley below.
View from above: A scramble up the nearby hilltops, known as jebels, gives some sense of the scale of the sculptures, particularly when a 4x4 drives through the valley below.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Graffiti magnet: </strong>The remote sculpture has inevitably attracted graffiti -- much of it voicing Qatari national pride.
Graffiti magnet: The remote sculpture has inevitably attracted graffiti -- much of it voicing Qatari national pride.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Artistic debate: </strong>The sculpture also hosts a discussion about its own artistic merit.
Artistic debate: The sculpture also hosts a discussion about its own artistic merit.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Towering structure: </strong>Reaching up to 16.7 meters high, most of the surfaces of the steel plates are out of reach for vandals. They're sturdy enough to withstand powerful desert winds.
Towering structure: Reaching up to 16.7 meters high, most of the surfaces of the steel plates are out of reach for vandals. They're sturdy enough to withstand powerful desert winds.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Barely there: </strong>In profile, the metal sheets are almost invisible, measuring less than a standard handspan across.
Barely there: In profile, the metal sheets are almost invisible, measuring less than a standard handspan across.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Abandoned town:</strong> Serra's work isn't the only oddity in Qatar's Zekreet Peninsula. There's also an empty town known as Film City.
Abandoned town: Serra's work isn't the only oddity in Qatar's Zekreet Peninsula. There's also an empty town known as Film City.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Starring role:</strong> The deserted enclosure is actually a filming location used in Arabic dramas and promotional videos.
Starring role: The deserted enclosure is actually a filming location used in Arabic dramas and promotional videos.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Open to visitors:</strong> Film City's gates are open during the day for visitors to wander around and take photos.
Open to visitors: Film City's gates are open during the day for visitors to wander around and take photos.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Umbrella rock: </strong>Desert winds have eroded the limestone rock to create unusual shapes, including this one with a building stranded on top.
Umbrella rock: Desert winds have eroded the limestone rock to create unusual shapes, including this one with a building stranded on top.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Traditional buildings:</strong> These stone structures are recent recreations of ancient structures used to store dates.
Traditional buildings: These stone structures are recent recreations of ancient structures used to store dates.
Barry Neild/CNN
<strong>Desert driving: </strong>It's wise to have good tires and a driver who knows the way in this remote corner of the desert. Self-drive hire cars aren't typically suitable for the terrain.
Desert driving: It's wise to have good tires and a driver who knows the way in this remote corner of the desert. Self-drive hire cars aren't typically suitable for the terrain.
Barry Neild/CNN