Flickr/Patrik M. Loeff
world. Below it is the world's biggest reclining Buddha.
Sculpture has the power to leave spectators in a state of sheer amazement. But standing in the presence of a "supersize" statue can actually take your breath away.
Taking up to 20 years to build and millions of dollars to create, these 16 enormous creations do just that. They'll stand for centuries as icons of history and culture for visitors to enjoy. From the world's largest reclining Buddha to a 105 foot tall sculpture of Mao Zedong, keep scrolling for a trip around the world in massive statues.
The Christ the Redeemer statue, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scales more than 2,000 feet above the city to offer visitors stunning views. The 100 foot tall statue’s awe-inspiring scale and design resulted in its recognition as one of the seven new wonders of the world.
Source: Daily Mail
At 380 feet tall, Myanmar’s Laykyun Sekkya Buddha, built on top of Po Kaung Hills, is the second tallest statue in the world. At its foot is the "Monywa Buddha" — the largest reclining Buddha in the world.
Source: Matador Network
This statue, perched in China's Hunan Province, depicts Chairman Mao Zedong at the age of 32. The work is said to have cost as much as $35 million to build.
Source: Reuters, Matador Network
The 232 foot high Leshan Giant Buddha, carved on the hillside of the Xijuo Peak, overlooks three of China’s rivers. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is built with incredible detail; over a thousand buns were made to create the Buddha's coiled hair.
Source: UNESCO
This bright pink statue of Ganesha — a beloved Hindu god — sits in the Chachoengsao province of Thailand. It measures 52 feet high and 78 feet wide.
Source: Reuters
The Chaukhtatgyi Buddha is a giant reclining buddha housed in Yangon, Myanmar. The statue is a stunning work of art, from its golden robe to its diamond encrusted crown.
Source: Lonely Planet
During its debut on the Discovery Channel, the reality television show “London Ink” commissioned two huge statues, one of which was this 46 foot long, 10 foot tall statue of a swimmer wading through the grass near the River Thames in London, England.
Source: Atlas Obscura
This 347 foot high sculpture, entitled "Emperors Yan and Huang," is located in central China’s Henan province.
Source: Matador Network
The Motherland Monument is a 203-foot statue celebrating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany. Thanks to its colossal height, it can be seen from various points of Kiev, Ukraine.
This rock sculpture of the face of Decebalus, Dacia’s last king, is carved on a jagged outcrop of the Danube River near the city of Orsova in Romania. The 131 foot high carving is the tallest rock sculpture in Europe.
Source: The Telegraph
This Lord Murugan statue presides over the Batu Caves of Selangor, Malaysia. Made with 250 tons of steel and 79 gallons of gold paint, the 137-foot sculpture is said to be the world’s tallest statue of a Hindu deity.
Source: CNN
The Christ the King monument of Swiebodzin, Poland, was created using donations made by the town's residents and stands 172 feet high. Its crown alone is 10 feet high.
Source: The Irish Times
Chinese artists spent two years creating this 26 foot tall sculpture of Marilyn Monroe’s famous scene from “The Seven Year Itch.”
Source: Reuters
The Merlion of Sentosa, standing on Singapore's Sentosa Island, is a 121-foot sculpture of a mythical lion-headed fish of the same name. A national emblem, its name was derived from a Malay word meaning “lion city.”
Source: Matador Network
The Statue of Liberty stands high and mighty in New York Harbor’s Liberty Island. The 305-foot statue (from ground level to flame tip) was created in France, with giant steel supports, before being assembled in America.
Source: History Channel
The Guan Yin statue in Hainan, China, has three sides with different poses: one side faces inland and the other two face the South China Sea. The stunning statue stands 354 feet high.
Souce: Matador Network
