Escalator advert terrifies people trying to go down a floor

This National Geographic advertisement is probably the best example we"ve seen in a while of simultaneously promoting something and messing with our minds, man.

The graphic appears at the foot of an escalator in Brazil, advertising a programme called ‘Mundo Salvagem de Richard Rasmussen" and featuring a tagline that translates as ‘Ready for an adventure through the Brazilian forests?".

Don"t look down… (Picture: Imgur/SAT0725)

But it"s the image that"s really eye-catching. The veritable optical illusion consists of a 3D drawing of a crocodile jumping out of water at the bottom of the escalator, creating an unnerving situation for those about to disembark.

Another eye-catching advert was posted to Reddit (Picture: Imgur/SAT0725)

The advert was posted to Reddit by user SAT0725, who also drew attention to an equally inventive ad painted onto stairs in the UK.

The second advertisement, paid for by the American Disability Association, is designed to show able-bodied people how difficult something as simple as climbing stairs can be.

It features a painted-on mountain range and the words ‘For some this is the Everest".