Advertisements
It’s quite common that the size of certain landmarks and tourist attractions can be underwhelming. The Mona Lisa and the Great Sphinx of Giza are great examples of this, however there are some world-famous places and landmarks that are much bigger than you thought possible.
Here is a list of landmarks that are bigger than you think, so that when you go there you’re not overwhelmed by the sheer size of them!
Angkor Wat - Cambodia
Sponsored Links:
When people think of Angkor Wat they often think of the sun rising over a huge temple. What people don’t realise though, is that Angkor Wat is a temple complex that covers roughly 200 hectares.
People generally allow themselves a day to see the main temple, which is not enough, not giving themselves a chance to see the rest of the incredible temple complex.
The Grand Canyon - USA
Everybody knows that the Grand Canyon is huge, otherwise it wouldn’t be called the GRAND Canyon, but it’s tough to convey how huge it really is.
At almost 1 mile deep in some parts, it would take four Empire State Buildings on top of each other to reach the top, and with widths of up to 10 miles the whole thing is almost two thousand square miles. That’s twice the size of Luxembourg!
The Great Pyramid of Giza - Egypt
There are three iconic pyramids in this complex, which may be why people don’t realise how big the biggest one actually is.
The Great Pyramid is the largest of the three and was the largest man-made structure in the world for almost 4000 years. Erosion has shrunk it to 138m tall but don’t let that fool you. Despite the fact that it was built so long ago it is still absolutely massive.
The Great Barrier Reef - Australia
The largest coral reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef covers almost 350,000 square kilometres and contains nearly 3000 individual reefs.
So many tourists give themselves a day or two to explore the majesty of the reef, but to see it all you would need a lifetime.
The Great Wall of China - China
There’s a bit of a theme here, most of these landmarks are called the “great” something, but that’s because they’re all massive!
The Great Wall of China was originally over 12,000 miles long. Although nowhere near that much of the wall remains today, it would have taken 5 lengths of the USA running from east to west to cover it.
Uluru – Australia
The second largest monolith in the world, and one of the most popular, Uluru stands almost 0,2 miles wide and has a circumference of almost 6 miles.
Also known as Ayers Rock, Uluru rises out of the vast and flat Australian desert and is visible for miles. Uluru is surprisingly steep, and although you can climb it you are advised against doing so to protect the wishes of the local people and their culture.
The Forbidden City – China
The largest imperial palace in the world, this was the home of the Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years.
Some of the palace is still off limits to the public, but it will take more than a full day to be able to appreciate the majesty of the 720,000 square metre icon of China.
Christ the Redeemer – Brazil
Standing on the peak of a 2296 foot tall mountain and an 26ft pedestal, the statue of Christ the Redeemer stands at 98 feet high and 91 feet wide.
An icon of Rio and Brazil as a whole, the statue of Christ the Redeemer has become one of the most visited monuments in the world for people of all religions.
Sistine Chapel - Italy
From the outside, the Sistine Chapel just looks like another building, however inside is one of the greatest pieces of western art in history.
It took Michelangelo over four years to paint the Chapel and permanently damaged his eyesight to do so. With ceilings higher than 65 feet in some parts, you’ll undoubtedly be in awe of the sheer height and size of these masterful pieces.
Giant’s Causeway – Northern Ireland
Sponsored Links:
More than just the few columns that make up the most popular photos, you can easily lose yourself in the history and mythology of the Causeway for days.
British Museum – England
A must visit for history buffs, the British Museum was built in 1753 and contains over 8 million pieces in its collection.
Covering 75,000 square metres, you’re going to need more than one trip to be able to take in and appreciate some of the rare items on display here.
Burj Khalifa – United Arab Emirates
Most people will know that standing at almost 830m, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world.
Knowing that doesn’t mean that you won’t be in awe of how tall this building actually is. Built in 2010, it took six years to complete and was built to help attract more tourists to Dubai.
Palace of Versailles – France
A world icon of history since it was built to the massive structure that it is today in around 1682.
Famous for its Hall of Mirrors, Royal Opera and sheer size among other things, the Palace of Versailles covers a floor area of over 65,000 square metres and is one of the most popular attractions in France, bringing in over 7 million visitors every year.
Angel Falls – Venezuela
The highest continuous waterfall in the world, it may not attract the attention of Victoria Falls or Niagara Falls, but Angel Falls is massive.
At 979m high and with a longest drop of 807m, you’ll end up with a sore neck if you look up at the top of Angel Falls for too long!
Temple of Luxor – Egypt
Sponsored Links:
An Ancient Egyptian temple complex that was constructed in around 1400 BC, The Luxor Temple covers over 7000 hectares of space.
Having been used as a place of worship and a fortress over the centuries, the Temple is an often forgotten about attraction of Egypt that is absolutely magnificent.
Sources
List Challenges - 150 Most Famous Landmarks In The WorldBritannica - Uluru/Ayers Rock
Trip Savvy - Interesting Facts About Angkor Wat
Just Rough in It - How Big is Grand Canyon - Really?
National Geographic - Archaeology And History
The Travel - Here's How Big These 20 Famous Landmarks REALLY Are
China Highlights - The Great Wall of China — All Things You Want to Know
China Highlights - Forbidden City
Live Science - Sistine Chapel Photo Project Is So Detailed It Shows Individual Brushstrokes
