Geograph - photograph every grid square

M'mm, I like the minty ones

The ultrasauros dinosaur appears to be devouring the copper dome of the Naval Memorial on Southsea Common. Some people have been offended by the creature in close proximity to the memorial. However, just after I took this, I took a group photo for a family who had come to see the dinosaur. Afterwards they went to look at the Naval Memorial and the father, in response to questions from the children, explained what the memorial was about commemorating those naval officers and seamen who had died in the two world wars defending the cause of freedom. He finished with the memorable line "they died so that you would be free to see a dinosaur roam on Southsea Common". I hope they understood.

The creature, based on a fake story about the largest dinosaur that ever lived, was manufactured in a Serbian car factory. It is 16 metres (53 feet) high and 22 metres (72 feet) long. It has a steel skeleton and hard polyester shell. It was designed by artists Heather and Ivan Morison. It was erected on Southsea Common on 28th July 2010 and will remain there until 10th October, when it will visit other sites around the country including Colchester and Cardiff.

Update 1st October 2010. The dinosaur was destroyed by fire yesterday evening in a suspected arson attack.