Objects That Are Actually Way Bigger Than You Ever Thought
Sometimes, all you need is a little perspective to understand your place in this universe. The truth is that a lot of items that you see in the movies, on television, or on the internet can seem more normal-sized than they actually are.
Here are some photos of objects with surprisingly massive size with some common items next to them to show perspective.
A Massive Comet Compared to Los Angeles
At about 3 kilometers — or almost 2 miles — wide, the 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko comet could easily entirely destroy Los Angeles.
Chances are there would be no trace of the city left. Weighing in at over 10 billion tons, you can be sure that it would make an earth-altering impact. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s headed our way.
The Only Match You Need For Your Next Bonfire
If you could manage to get this match lit, chances are you wouldn’t need much help getting a bigger fire going. How do you manage to strike a match this large?
Does it come in a box where you can just strike the side to get a flame? However, if you light it, watch out. This is a flame that could get out of control fast!
How Big Was the Iceberg That Sunk The Titanic?
While the iceberg that sunk the Titanic was reported to be anywhere from 50 to 100 feet tall, keep in mind that the part of the iceberg below the water can be up to five times larger.
That is like a five to ten-story building above the water, and a skyscraper floating below the surface. No wonder things ended so tragically for the Titanic.
Hello Out There!
The China Sky Eye is the largest single-dish radio telescope in the world. It’s also the world’s most sensitive listening device, so if there are other worlds out there trying to communicate with us, chances are the Sky Eye would be listening.
From planning to completion, the project took about eight years and over $171 million. It contains 4,450 individual panels that search the skies for signs of extraterrestrial contact.
I’m yelling, “Timber!”
Maybe you’ve seen driftwood before, but probably not an entire driftwood tree. This tree has probably been bouncing around in the ocean for a while.
Even if it had just fallen in a forest, the roots of this tree show that it’s an impressive size. Maybe whales in the ocean used it for a game of water fetch.
Here’s a Little Something for Your Nightmares
Just in case you’ve ever wondered what the largest known flying animal looks like, now you know. This model of a Quetzalcoatlus Northropi from the Late Cretaceous period could have a wingspan in excess of 30 feet, based on fossils found throughout North America.
If it hadn’t become extinct, there’s no doubt that it would have made a serious dent in the human population.
The World’s Most Congested Traffic Needs the World’s Biggest Control Room
Beijing’s population and traffic have been growing for decades. When the Olympics were held there in 2008, it only made the problem worse. Then in 2010, the Chinese capital experienced the worst traffic jam of all time, which lasted over three days.
As the city continues to grow and evolve, the traffic control system merits this really impressive space.
Ducky in Search of The World’s Largest Bathtub
You can’t miss a giant, yellow rubber ducky floating down the waterway.
It would require a bathtub that could hold hundreds of bathers and probably even fit some on its back for a ride. Good luck trying to make it squeak though!
Traffic Lights are Seriously Strong
When you see how big and heavy traffic lights are on the ground, watching them swing in a strong wind is even scarier.
They stand about four feet tall and are big enough that most people could fit their heads inside.
Looks Like a Fruit Dr. Seuss Would Invite
Jackfruits are from the same plant family as figs, but they are much larger, with some weighing about 80 pounds! And they’re also big on nutrition with an impressive amount of protein and antioxidants per serving.
Even though they have a subtly sweet taste, their texture makes them a good meat substitute for vegetarians and vegans.
Fat and Swollen Cruise Ship vs. Handsome Titanic
When it set sail for its maiden (and final) voyage, the Titanic was the ultimate cruise ship. Now, it is dwarfed by the floating cities that most current cruise ships hold.
There were a little over 2,200 passengers on the Titanic and most current cruise ships carry a whopping 9,000 passengers.
A Woman Way Above Average
Margo Dydek was a Polish basketball player who played in the WNBA for ten years, beginning in 2008. Although both of her parents were over 6 feet tall, Margo was the tallest in her family, reaching a final height of 7 feet 2 inches tall.
In 2011 while she was coaching when she suffered a heart attack while pregnant with her third child. She was posthumously inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2019.
Captain is Dwarfed by the Ship He Commands
As you’ve already seen, current cruise ships are huge compared to former luxury boats, like the Titanic. But how big are they really? One glance at this captain standing in front of the Queen Mary 2 gives you just a glimpse of their impressive size.
You could also fit almost two Titanics or hundreds of school buses inside. Now you know why they’re considered floating cities.
Chain Links Bigger than a Human
All those large ships need chains to help keep them docked in port, and these chains are made in massive sizes to make that happen.
This photo might look like someone photo-shopped people into a junk drawer, but these are life-sized chains (and people). These workers may be inspecting the chains, but they’ll need some heavy machinery to do the lifting.
Dump Truck vs. School Bus
Imagine driving a truck that requires an entire staircase to get inside? Look a little closer because that thing behind the truck that looks like a toy is actually a full-sized school bus.
These huge dump trucks are used at large excavation sites and quarries all around the world and, I’m just guessing here, take more than a regular driver’s license to drive them.
The Biggest Heart in the Mammal Kingdom
At over 5 feet long and 4 feet wide, the heart of a blue whale is bigger than some New York City apartments. That might be an exaggeration, but it weighs in at around 400 pounds, so it is larger than most people.
Of course, most blue whales grow to be around 85 feet long, so they need a big heart to move through the ocean.
What it Takes to be Taller Than Tall
If you saw Yao Ming on the basketball court among other super-tall men you would notice that he still “stands” out. At 7 feet 6 inches tall, he towered over many opponents, including Shaquille O’Neal, who is five inches shorter!
Dwayne Johnson is a taller-than-average guy at 6 feet 5 inches, and he looks pretty short next to Yao.
The Amazing Lung Capacity of Horses
If you’ve ever watched a racehorse speed around a track, you might wonder how it is physically possible. Aside from their body musculature, horses also have a phenomenal capacity to run because of the air their lungs are capable of moving.
With an average lung capacity of 55 meters, which is almost 10 times that of humans, they are biologically designed for impressive cardio feats.
Freeway signs are Bigger than Cars Driving Under Them
Most highway signs that show you upcoming exits or other directions might seem small, but the reality is that these signs are very large compared to what’s driving under them.
They have to be high enough in the air for large trucks and other traffic to easily fit under them, so the lettering has to be a minimum of twelve inches high in order to be easily read as you speed by them.
It’s a Long Way Down to The Bottom of a Mega-Dam
The Gordon Dam is located on the Gordon River in South West Tasmania, Australia. The dam’s height is 460 feet.
However, water from behind the dam travels over 600 feet to the power station at the bottom. That’s just a little smaller than the height of the St. Louis Arch.
God Holding a Golden Thread
The 500-foot-long Golden Bridge in Vietnam is a pedestrian bridge with massive sculptural hands serving as supports. The effect is that of a giant, or a god holding the span of the bridge for people to pass.
The result is an impressive sight, with the fingers being larger than the bridge’s pedestrians by ten times.
Could I Live In a Wind Turbine?
Here’s another object, like the highway sign, that is so high above us, we may not realize how large it really is. Wind turbines operate huge windmills that generate electricity with the air blowing by.
But in order to really capture the wind, they have to be very large. Looking at the person standing next to it, it looks like she could comfortably set up a livable space on the inside of the turbine.
How does Saturn Compare to our Moon?
The planet Saturn is nine times the size of the earth and has 95 times more mass. If it were in orbit around the earth, life as we know it would not exist.
The moon has a lot to do with our tides and the massive tides from a planetary body like Saturn would wipe out whole sections of Earth. Also, Saturn already has 85 moons of its own, so it should just stay where it is.
A Zippo that Doubles as a Torch
Why would anyone need a Zippo this big? Well, Maybe they need to start a colossal fire.
If you have the strength to flick this lighter and get a flame, just be sure to use it carefully.
A Place to Wag Your Tail Over
Are you the ultimate dog lover? Then you have to stay at the Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho. The owners are artists and dog lovers who took their passions to the extreme.
This one-unit Bed and Breakfast is a charming place to stay and pick up some pup-related wood carvings. Not surprisingly, pets are welcome too!
The Old Man of the Sea
Did you know that lobsters, if they can avoid capture, can live to be 50 years old? If they stick around that long, they probably grow to be the size of this bad boy.
While it’s tempting to think of what a great meal this would make, let’s hope he got thrown back to the ocean to live out his days among other sea creatures.
Not At All Life-Sized
Michelangelo’s David is widely seen as one of the greatest art masterpieces of all time. Sculpted between 1501 and 1504, it is a perfect work of art and sometimes requires restoration.
Because David stands about five times taller than a human, scaffolding is needed to reach his upper body. Just look at the size of the restoration expert compared to his foot. (David, we can get you a good Zippo lighter if you need one.)
Is This From the World’s Largest Steer?
If you’re serious about being a meat-eater, you should try to tackle a rib eye like this one. You need a platter just to hold the whole thing.
That rib bone is bigger than that person’s wrist. Hope you’re hungry!
A Shoe Bigger Than My Head!
Hard to imagine how big the person is who can fit into this shoe.
Maybe our friend Yao Ming donated some of his shoes to a thrift store? Regardless, that’s one big shoe!
This is Not an Extra From “Planet of the Apes”
Nope. This guy, Gigantopithecus, actually existed during the Middle Pleistocene era in southern China.
Fossil evidence suggests that they were over 9 feet tall and weighed over 1,000 pounds.
That’s a Pretty Big Bite
Here’s one of our older crustacean friends who didn’t get thrown back.
Let’s hope he lived a great life and that there’s enough butter to go with this massive claw.
A Mega-Log Home
Log homes are known to be pretty sturdy, but this one takes that to another level!
Not content to use regular logs, this structure looks like they used pretty large tree trunks and carefully interlocked them.
This Snickers Really Satisfies
You are probably a big Snickers fan if you decide to tackle this Snicker’s bar.
Maybe you should devour it a little at a time. You could go too far and never want another one ever again.
Beware of High Voltage
Think about most of your household power that carries a 110-volt charge.
This huge electrical conductor carries 400,000 volts through underground conduit to bring electricity to large areas.
Long Carrots for... Salad Fighting?
Japanese supermarkets have a lot of really different foods for sale. How about this “luxury” carrot that is super long.
Once you cut it up, it is probably just like any other carrot. Maybe you can have a kitchen duel with this carrot and the next item.
The World’s Most Fragile Weapon
This long icicle probably took a long time to form, but other than looking cool until it melts, it isn’t good for much.
While it looks crystal clear, icicles actually have a lot of gross things inside them — like remnants of bird poop from water running on rooftops. In a battle with the extra-long carrot, the icicle will probably lose.
Stay Out of The Giant’s Forest
I’m beginning to think there are giants hiding somewhere in plain sight. This leaf looks like it fell from a tree that has been around for centuries.
Even though that banana held up for comparison looks pretty small, that leaf is massive.
One Ring to Bind Them
Is this a wedding band or a rim for a wheel? This impressive ring of gold could probably fit four or five hands inside it.
As a bonus, just think of the detailed inscription you could put inside it! More evidence that giants exist?
The Mysteries Surrounding The Great Pyramid of Giza
This pyramid-shaped structure is over 480 feet tall and is made of limestone and granite. Scholars still debate exactly how it was made at a time of only manual labor.
From a distance, it looks like a smooth surface, but up close, you can see how large each of its stones are.
Has Anyone Seen My Rubber Duckie?
This steel and foam sculpture is called, “The Bather” and it was a short-term installation in Hamburg, Germany.
Safe to say it had a lot of people talking, and boating.
Largest Living Tree Was A Seedling 2,000 Years Ago
The General Sherman Tree is a Giant Sequoia that holds the title of the largest currently living tree.
At around 275 feet tall, it is both impressive and humbling to stand under its trunk.
Top this on Your Next Snow Day
If you want to do something bigger than this massive, happy snowman, you better have a lot of snow, plenty of help, and something that can lift these snowballs into place.
It might help if we knew exactly how those pyramids were constructed, and that Japanese carrot would work great for its nose!
More Evidence of Giants
It stands to reason that if giants exist, they need to do laundry sometimes.
Maybe that’s why Turkish artist Mehmet Ali Uysal designed this huge clothespin sculpture.
The Lung Capacity of a Great Blue Whale
After seeing their massive hearts, it isn’t hard to understand that the lungs of a great blue whale are also pretty huge.
The size is almost bigger than the person doing the demonstration.
World's Tallest Man
Here we have three World Record holders, known for their extreme heights. The first image was take in Egypt of the World’s Tallest Man, Sultan Kosen, with the World’s Shortest Woman, Jyoti Amge. Amge is in her mid-twenties and is 2 feet tall.
The second picture is of Sultan Kosen once again, but this time with the World’s Shortest Adult, Chandra Bahadur Dangi. Dangi measures in at 21.5 inches tall, or 1 foot and 9.5 inches. The two record holders met in London in 2014.
The Largest Land-Living Arthropod
These crazy big creatures pictured below are coconut crabs. They are the biggest arthropod in the world that you can find on land. You can find these crabs living on islands along the Indian Ocean, including in Australia.
In parts of Australia, it actually isn’t uncommon to find coconut crabs clinging to your garbage can or being around your home. While their size may look frightening, especially in comparison to this dog above, for the most part coconut crabs aren’t harmful and eat mostly fruits, nuts, and seeds.
Everything's Bigger in Australia
Aside from Australia having large coconut crabs about, they are also known for other large objects such as this infamous ram statue called Big Merino.
This concrete roadside attraction in New South Wales, Australia is 50 feet tall. Inside you’ll find a gift shop on the first floor and a wool display on the second level. Those who visit can also climb up to Big Merino’s eye level to view the city through his gaze.
Big Hat Equals Lots of Shade
When it’s hot and sunny and you’re planning for a long day outside, a hat or sombrero can be an excellent option to keep the sun out of your eyes and face. It will protect you from getting sunburn all while providing you with a tiny bit of shade to keep you cool.
This guy seems to have taken this idea to the extreme. With a sombrero that big, he has all the shade he could ever need. We just wonder where he got it or if he made it himself. We hope it’s not too heavy to carry around on his head all day.
A 1,300 Year Old Tree
This historic photo was taken in 1892 of a Giant Sequoia tree. Its massive size is a testament to the marvel of nature. Those three adults and even the ladder seem small and insignificant in comparison to the large tree trunk.
This Sequoia tree in particular has been determined to be 1,300 years old. The tree itself was nicknamed “Mark Twain.” It was cut down so that slabs from the trunk could be displayed in museums around the world.
An Astronaut in Space
Yes, that tiny white spec you see is an astronaut floating out in space. It truly is crazy when you put the universe in perspective and realize just how small we are in comparison to planet Earth, the solar system, and the entire galaxy.
The astronaut photographed here is Bruce Mccandless II. He completed the first untethered spacewalk in 1984, as pictured above. He was not connected to his space shuttle in anyway and was floating freely, using only his suit to move about.
Just One Crazy Image
At first glance this may seem like two separate images, but look again. It is in fact one image. That ship is simply massive in comparison to the people and structures seen on land.
Here the carrier ship called the Pasha Bulker broke free from its loading area during a storm and washed ashore along Nobbys Beach in Australia. The massive ship is 225 meters long.
A Passing Iceberg
Imagine living in this small, quaint house in Greenland when all of a sudden everything starts getting dark and you look out your window to discover a humungous iceberg passing by.
That’s exactly what the folks who live here likely go through all the time. However, this perhaps is the largest passing iceberg they’re ever experienced. At least it’s not a permanent addition to their view as it will simply float away after some time.
How Big is the Sun Exactly?
Here we have another image that helps to put our galaxy into perspective. This is a picture of the Sun. That small black dot you see is Mercury.
The Sun has a radius of 432,690 miles. Its diameter is about 109 times larger than Earth and around one million Earths could fit inside the Sun.
Japan's Tallest Goddess Statue
This statue of Nyoirin Kannon is the tallest version of her in the world. It also measures up to be the tallest statue of a goddess in Japan.
Nyoirin Kannon is the goddess of mercy, and people associate her with compassion. In her right hand she holds a wishing gem and is believed to be able to grant wishes. This beautiful looming statue is 328 feet tall.
Those Are Some Big Glasses
These giant 3D glasses are quite the spectacle…do you see what we did there? We’re not sure who decided to create a giant pair of 3D glasses but we must admit they are pretty cool.
Imagine the crazy number of people who could all watch a movie together at the same time, Movie theaters would only have to invest in a few pairs and they would be set for life. The fact they are way too large to smuggle out of the theater would also deter people from pocketing them on their way out.
A Big Message
Believe it or not this is an actual picture not a photoshopped image. This is a building known as Ascension. The building was built for the Coachella Music and Arts Festival.
The purpose of the building was to help convey the message behind the festival. The message the festival event staff wanted to convey to its attendees was simple and straightforward, peace. This gorgeous bulding did just that.
A Big Basket
This giant basket looks exactly like, well, a giant basket! The big difference here is that this particular basket it not used to carry sandwiches, but instead is used to hold humans.
This building is the former headquarters of The Longaberger Company. It is a seven-story, 180,000-square-foot building based on the maple wood baskets manufacturer’s best-selling product- the Medium Market Basket.
A Giant Balloon Dog
This massive balloon dog was created by designer Jeff Koons. Jeff Koons is an artist who blends the themes and methods of his works and puts his own unique spin on all of his pieces. His other pieces are often considered controversial but yet, still engaging.
There are actually five of Koons Balloon Dogs in five different colors; blue, magenta, orange, red, or yellow. Each work is made from precision engineered, mirror-polished, stainless steel and finished with the translucent color coating.
Light Em' Up!
New Your City does not mess around when it comes to the most wonderful time of the year. The whole city seems to get in ion the holiday decor. Head on over to Six Avenue’s Midtown blocks and you will be met with some of the coolest and largest decorations.
From giant red ball ornaments, multi-colored twinkle lights (plug included!), to an army of towering toy soldiers they really have thought of it all. Added bonus, it’s all just steps away from the enormous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Oh Christmas Tree
Speaking of Christmas Tree’s, did you know in 2021 the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lost its reign as the biggest Christmas tree? Enid, Oklahoma is the new proud owner of that title and we can see why.
At 140 feet, Enid’s towering Christmas tree stood 75 percent taller than the world-famous Rockefeller Center tree. The gigantic fir traveled 2,000 miles from just outside California’s Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and was chosen from trees marked for harvest.
We Hope They Brought The Giant Rackets
At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, you can find four of the largiest shuttlecocks we have ever come across. These 18-foot displays were commissioned with funds gifted to the museum from the Sosland family.
These massive art pieces were created by the husband-and-wife team, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen. The aluminum and fiberglass pieces were installed over a five-day period in July of 1994. Inspiration for the shuttlecocks came from a painting in the museum by Frederic Remington.
Here's The Scoop
This enormous spoon looks like it could be straight out of the kitchen of a giant. The XL spoon with a cherry on top is located in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which showcases more than 40 works from the Walker Art Center’s collections.
The piece is Spoonbridge and Cherry, and it is an iconic 7,000-pound piece of art. Water is even emitted from both ends of the fruit’s stem. This is another epic piece done by Claes Oldenberg/Coosje Van Bruggen.
Making A BIG Statement
There is no missing this massive cigarette butt and that’s the whole purpose. Keep Britain Tidy workers installed a giant cigarette butt in London to highlight the fact that cigarette related litter affects 78 percent of UK streets.
The stunt was designed to promote the environmental charity’s ‘It’s no small problem…’ campaign, which discourages smokers from dropping their cigarette waste onto sidewalks and into streets.
That's A Strike
There is no missing this massive bowling ball and pins. These Flying Pins, are steel structure designed by you guessed it, leading gigantists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
The ten massive pins have a yellow hue to match the region’s springtime daffodils. This creative couple makes sure the smallest of details are taken into account when it comes to their pieces.
You've Got Mail!
You’ve got mail! Seriously, you really do. Believe it or not this giant mailbox is fully functional. The flag on the side will even be raised whenever outgoing mail is dropped into the slot.
When visiting Casey, Illinois not only is there a giant mailbox, Casey is home to a giant rocking chair, golf tee, pitchfork, wind chime, wooden shoes, and crochet hook and knitting needles.