World's Largest Rocking Horse

Google Street View

This giant rocking horse in the town of Gumeracha, Australia is the World's biggest rocking horse, however for safety reason it is embedded in concrete and doesn't rock. It is part of a larger complex which includes a wooden toy factory, wildlife park and a café. A much smaller and real rocking horse has also been  placed adjacent to the giant so that the kids visiting it are not disappointed.

More info and images in Travelogue Of An Armchair Traveller

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White Elephant of Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois

Google Street View

This white elephant in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France, was brought to the town in 1950 by one M.Masse, proprietor of Cafe de Liers who wanted to install it in his garden. However due to its huge size it could not be placed in the garden and he gifted the elephant to the city. After its installation he changed the name of his cafe to Cafe-Tabac de L'Elephant.

Vandals frequently paint the elephant pink and the city authorities paint it back to white. So in a sense it is proving to be a white elephant for the town!

Source of info and more images including elephant in pink: evry-daily-photo.blogspot.com

Catford Cat - Giant Cat On The Wall

Google Street View

This giant fibreglass sculpture of a black cat is installed above the entrance  to the Catford Centre - a small shopping centre in Catford, a district in the London Borough of Lewisham, in south London, England.

The sculpture popularly known as Catford Cat is the most prominent landmark in the region and the centre is punningly called Catford Mews.

Source of info: information.catford.co.uk

Giant Floral Carpet, Brussels

Google Street View

One of the most important cultural events in Brussels is the famous biennial Floral Carpet (Tapis de Fleur) show which takes place in August every alternate year.

The 2010 event, in which about 700,000 flowers were used for creating a beautiful carpet, was captured by Google Street View camera and it is a treat to roam around the street admiring the huge and breath taking colourful carpet from all sides.

Some great images in Noisette's photo Collection

More information in Travelogue of An Armchair Traveller

World's Largest Cowboy Boots, San Antonio, Texas

Google Street View

These giant 12 metres (40-foot) tall boots, billed as World's Largest, are located outside the North Star Mall in San Antonio, Texas.

Created in November 1979 by the Texan artist Bob "Daddy-O" Wade, these were originally installed in Washington D.C near The White House and were later shifted to this location.

Main source of info and more info: cowboysindians.com

Giant Globe at Earth Explorer, Ostend, Belgium

Google Street View

"Earth Explorer" is science museum in Ostend, Belgium showcasing the four natural elements; Earth, Water, Fire and Wind. Through the exhibits and DIY projects it familiarises the visitors, the where and why of major natural actives like Earthquake, Volcanoes, Tornados, secrets of Ocean depth etc.

The giant Globe located at the entrance to the building measures about 12.5 metres (41 ft) and is made of reinforced fibreglass.

Main source of info: Earth Explorer Official Webpage (in Dutch) (English Translation)

Phoenix at Efteling Theme Park, Holland

Google Street View

Efteling Theme Park located in the small town of Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands is one of largest and oldest theme park in the World. Opened in 1952 it not only pre-dates the original Disneyland of California by about 3 years but is also twice as large.

Here is a Google Street View of one its attractions; The legendary bird - Phoenix.

More info about the theme park: Wikipedia

Giant Alligator in Surf City

Google Street View

This giant alligator is located in front of the 'Waves Surf and Sport Shop' on Ronald Avenue in Surf City, NC, USA. Its huge open mouth is the main entrance to the shop.

Giant Coffee Cup, Milwaukee

Google Street View

This giant coffee cup with saucer adorns the roof of Tazza Pizzeria, 5010 W.  Vliet Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Originally built by Milwaukee Coffee Company, the building has changed hands a  few times and presently houses Tazza Pizzeria. It is a big landmark in the town.

Source of info: onmilwaukee.com

Credits: Felippo via Google Earth Community

Atomium - The Giant Iron Crystal, Brussels, Belgium

Google Street View

Here is an unusual and huge structure made of steel which is a 3-D representation of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.

Known as Atomium, it was designed by André Waterkeyn for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair. The structure officially billed as a monument and is 102 metres (335 ft) tall. Its nine spheres, each of 18 metres diameter, are interconnected by tubes which have escalators within them. The uppermost sphere provides a panoramic view of Brussels.

More info:  Wikipedia

Note: This post celebrates Google Street View of   Belgium  going online. Keep visiting this blog for more fantastic images from Belgium.

Giant Red Arrow

Google Street View

This giant red arrow is installed in front of the Indian Plaza Shopping Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Exact date of its commissioning is not known but it was in existence since early sixties and  has now become a famous landmark.

Source of info: ABQ.Strange

World's Largest Carrot

Google Street View

This giant 7.5 metres tall model of a Carrot in the town of Ohakune, New Zealand is reportedly World's largest carrot.

The town is centre of carrot growing region of the country and is commonly referred as the 'Carrot Capital' of New Zealand. Installed in 1984 the carrot initially drew criticism from several quarters, however it has since become an important landmark and a tourist attraction.

Source of info: wanganuichronicle.co.nz 

Saturn-V Rocket Full Scale Model

Google Street View

Full-scale model of Saturn-V rocket at U.S. Space & Rocket Centre, Huntsville, Alabama. The centre is a space museum showcasing American rocketry and space-related exhibits.

Other smaller rockets including Saturn-I (extreme left) can also be seen.

More info: ussrc.com

Giant Water Tap

Google Street View

This giant water tap is installed as an advertisement, on the front wall of a plumber shop "Boes Plumber" in the city of Wateringen, The Netherlands. No further details are available about this giant tap.

Giant Wood Saw

Google Street View

This giant wood saw is installed outside the Tokyo International Exhibition Center (aka Big Sight), Tokyo, Japan. 

The 15.4 (50 ft. 8 in.) metres long, 12.2 metres (40 ft.) wide and 1. 5 metres (4 ft. 9 in.) thick saw is made of Steel, epoxy resin, fiber-reinforced plastic, PVC foams; painted with polyester gelcoat. Installed in March 1996 it is known as "Saw, Sawing" and artwork of the artistic team of Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg.

Source of info: oldenburgvanbruggen.com

KFC's Big Chicken

Google Street View

Here is a "Big Chicken" at KFC's restaurant in Marietta, Georgia, USA.

The 17 metres (56 feet) high bird was erected in 1963 as an advertising for a local restaurant, which later became a franchisee of KFC. The Big Chicken is a well-known landmark point and reportedly pilots of air crafts also use it as a reference when approaching Atlanta.

More info: Wikipedia

World's Largest Thermometer

Google Street View

This giant thermometer located in a small town of Baker, CA, USA is the largest Thermometer in the World and is a monument to highest temperature of 134° F (56.7° C) recorded in nearby Death Valley on July 10, 1913.

Highest temperature ever recorded so far in the World is 57.8 °C (136 °F) at Al 'Aziziyah, Libya on September 13, 1922 and the temperature recorded at Death Valley on July 10, 1913 is World's second highest recorded temperature.

The thermometer has a height of 134 feet (40.84 metres) and LEDs mounted on it display the ambient temperature.

More info and images: Travelogue of An Armchair Traveller

World's Biggest Merino

Google Street View

This giant merino sheep made from steel frame and concrete, stands 15.2 metre tall and weighs 97 Tonnes.

Location: Hume Street, off Hume Highway, Goulburn,  NSW, Australia.

More info at: bigmerino.com.au

Credits: Farceur via Google Earth Community

Huge Windows at Boeing's Airplane Assembly Plant

Google Street View

Here is an image from Flickr (by Maurice King) taken from height;

Vastness of the windows can be gauged from close up Google Street View shown below. (Notice the size of cars in front of the window.)

Google Street View

Boeing's assembly plant located in  Everett, Washington is the largest building in the world and Boeing 747s, 767s, 777s, and the new 787 Dreamliner are assembled here.

The building also boasts of huge glass windows which can seen in the Google Street Views above;

Location: Boeing Freeway, Everett, Washington, USA

Source of info: Wikipedia