Last Updated on July 24, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar
You will find many statues in this world. But some are giant and breathtakingly beautiful. They are known all over the world for their beauty and cultural significance. It is said that we have been making statues since the prehistoric times! Earlier, the materials used were stones and rocks. Over time, we learnt to use other metals for this purpose. This list is all about the top 10 statues. The selection is done on the basis of their size, importance and popularity around the globe. The list is in no particular order. Enjoy this list!
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
This beautiful statue is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a statue of Jesus Christ and stands high above the city, on top of Corcovado mountain. It can be reached by the mountain railway. It was unveiled by Guglielmo Marconi in 1931. The statue is 38m tall and weighs 1,163 tonnes. It is made up of reinforced concrete and soapstone.
Statue of Liberty, USA
Statue of Liberty is located in New York, USA. It is one of the most famous statues in the world and is shown in a number of movies. It was presented to USA by the people of France. The statue was transported by dividing it into various sections. Later these parts were assembled to make the statue. The statue was originally called ‘Liberty Enlightening the World’. The statue is 46m tall (from the base to the top of the torch) and weighs 229 tonnes. It is placed on top of a giant pedestal. This takes the total height of the structure to 93m.
Sphinx, Egypt
Located in Giza, Egypt, the statue is of a mythical creature called Sphinx. It has the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh. There are many such statues of Sphinxes in the world. But the most famous one is in Giza. The statue was made in 2500 BC. It is 20m high and 73m long.
Leshan Buddha, China
Located near the city of Leshan, China, the work on this statue started in 713 AD and was completed 90 years later. It is 71m high.
Mount Rushmore, USA
It is located in South Dakota, USA. This sculpture consists of the heads of great US presidents- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. These heads are carved out of a cliff face. The construction took place in between 1927 and 1939.
Abu Simbel, Egypt
Four statues, each 20m high guard the Abu Simbel temple. The structures were relocated after a dam was built in the area which caused flooding. Now, the statues are located above the Aswan Dam.
Angel of the North, UK
It is located in Gateshead, UK. This modern styled statue was designed by Antony Gormley and was erected in 1998. The statue is 19.8m tall and has a wingspan of 53.3m. It weighs 200 tonnes.
Ushiku Daibutsu, Japan
This giant statue of Buddha is located in Tokyo, Japan. It is 120m tall and weighs 1,000 tonnes. It is a modern statue and was unveiled on 1993.
Crazy Horse Monument, USA
It is a monument carved into Thunderhead mountain in South Dakota, USA. Crazy Horse Memorial is built in the memory of a native American chief. It is 172m high and 195m long. The work started in 1948 and is still not completed.
Bamiyan Buddhas
The two giant Buddhas (55m and 37m) were carved into the side of a cliff between 5th and 9th centuries in Afghanistan. It was destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. International organizations are now planning to restore these statues.
I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.
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