It might look futuristic, but this stunning pool was created a few years ago at the Jupiter Artland sculpture garden near Edinburgh, for the Scottish city's annual art festival. Nearly 30 feet wide, 'Gateway' is both a landscape sculpture and a functioning swimming pool. It was made by the artist Joana Vasconcelos from over 11,000 hand-painted tiles, produced in a traditional ceramic workshop in Portugal.

Today is the first day of this year's Edinburgh Art Festival, which runs for two weeks and features events and exhibitions by both established artists and emerging talents. August is festival season in Scotland's capital city, which is also hosting its international festival, the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and the city's international book and film festivals.