121. Hoover Dam Without Water
Found In: Black Canyon, Colorado River
Est. Cost: $760 million to build, adjusting for inflation*
Sometimes, it takes a photo from a different angle to remind you just how large something is. This is the back of the Hoover Dam, with no water to obscure its true size. The Dam is one of the world’s most significant feats of engineering.
Hoover Dam Without Water ©Bureau of Reclamation photographer/Wikimedia
Built in the 1930s, the Hoover Dam is located in Colorado’s Black Canyon. The concrete structure is 726 feet high and 1,244 feet long, with walls at its base as thick as 660 feet. At the top, the walls are still an impressive 45 feet thick.
122. Sleipner, An Offshore Platform
Found In: Norway
Est. Cost: $1 billion*
Sleipner is an offshore platform located off the coast of Norway, and it produces gas and oil. It sinks below the water over 269 feet, where it is supported by the seabed. Sleipner West was proven in the 1970s, with East proven in ’81.
Sleipner, An Offshore Platform @boredpanda/Pinterest
Though not the largest platform of its kind in the world, Sleipner is pretty close. Alas, this platform is most famous for its critical error, caused by a design flaw, that resulted in catastrophic collapse. Luckily, no one was hurt in this incident.
123. A Gigantic Machine vs. Kids
Found In: West Mineral, Kansas
Est. Cost: $66.08 million to build, adjusting for inflation*
This picture is sure to make any parent out there just a bit anxious. Seeing these two kids in the jaws of such a large, monstrous machine is enough to make anyone anxious (though it does make for a cool photo).
A Gigantic Machine vs. Kids @boredpanda/Pinterest
This machine is known as Big Brutus, and it is the largest electric shovel in the world, stretching 160 feet in height. He weighs 11 million pounds, and his job is to dig rock and dirt off of coal seams in strip mines, a task he hasn’t performed since 1974.
124. Crocodile Caught In Zimbabwe in 2010
Found In: Zimbabwe
Est. Cost: N/A
For a long time, a village in Zimbabwe was terrorized by this gigantic crocodile, which kept hunting and killing its cattle. He swam in the Zambezi River, usually taking his kills back there with them.
Crocodile Caught In Zimbabwe in 2010 @boredpanda/Pinterest
Eventually, this twenty-two-foot-long, 2,500-pound croc was caught and shot, and the villagers posed with him. Though a unique specimen, villagers were rightfully concerned about what would happen if they let the gigantic, oversized beast live.
125. Soledar, Ukraine Salt Mine
Found In: Soledar, Ukraine
Est. Cost: $14 per box of salt*
The Soledar Salt Mine is one of the largest mines of its kind in the world. It consists of 125 miles of tunnels, each at a depth of almost 1,000 feet. Some of the chambers are over 100 feet in height.
Soledar, Ukraine Salt Mine @boredpanda/Pinterest
The Russian-controlled mine produces thousands of pounds of salt per year. Salt is a matter of pride for the local villagers, and, before the war in Ukraine, the mine produced around 90% of the country’s total salt.
126. Clydesdale Horses vs. Humans
Found In: Scotland (Origin)
Est. Cost: $10,000-$30,000 for an adult*
Hailing from Scotland and weighing over two-thousand pounds are Clydesdale Horses, a breed you might have forgotten was totally massive. At their shoulder, grown adults stand as tall as six feet, and they can run up to twenty miles per hour.
Clydesdale Horses vs. Humans @Coelasquid /Twitter
As this photo proves, Clydesdales absolutely dwarf humans when it comes down to it. These horses are also strong, bred for some of the heaviest farm work out there. Despite their heft and size, these horses are famous for their gentle, calm temperaments.
127. Bison Vs. Human
Found In: U.S.
Est. Cost: $3,209* (Meat Price)
This gigantic bovine is known as a bison, and he is massive. At their peak height, bison measure over eight feet tall. They’re not an animal you want to mess around with, as they can weigh up to two-thousand pounds.
Bison Vs. Human @boredpanda/Pinterest
They can also run forty miles an hour, jump six feet in the air, and can pivot quickly to combat anything foolish enough to challenge it. You can find these majestic creatures in all fifty states, including national parks, refuges, tribal lands, and more.
128. A Scientist Descending Into An Arctic Crevasse
Found In: Antarctica
Est. Cost: N/A
In this vintage photo, you can see a British scientist descending into the depths of an Antarctic crevasse. Antarctic crevasses can be miles long and dozens of feet deep, having formed through the slow, constant moving of the ice of Antarctica.
A Scientist Descending Into An Arctic Crevasse @boredpanda/Pinterest
When scientists such as this person go into a crevasse, they can observe layers of ice and snow from years past. Deeper down, they can also even see the glacier’s ice crystals, making these crevasses true windows into history.
129. An Icelandic Mountain
Found In: Iceland
Est. Cost: $335 for an “alpine tour”*
Mountains in Iceland can reach as high as just under 7,000 feet tall. This photo showcases the majestic natural beauty of Iceland, which can be intimidating in situations like this. This mountain looks impossibly high when compared to the flat road.
An Icelandic Mountain @Fun Iceland/Facebook
Hvannadalshnukur is Iceland’s largest mountain, as it is the tallest peak of the Oraefajokull volcanic glacier. Its’ maximum height is 6,923 feet, which is a challenge to even the most dedicated of climbing professionals.
130. Maine Coon Cat Compared To A Siamese
Found In: U.S.
Est. Cost: $650-$2,000 for a kitten*
If you’ve ever owned a Maine Coon cat (or a cat that was mixed with Maine Coon), then you already know just how large these gentle giants can be. Here is a Maine Coon compared to a Siamese, and the size difference is striking.
Maine Coon Cat Compared To A Siamese @boredpanda/Pinterest
Maine Coons can reach up to eighteen pounds in weight, and they are one of North America’s oldest natural breeds. They originated in Maine, hence the name, and they are famous for their friendly, affectionate temperaments.
131. The Underbelly of An Iceberg
Found In: Glacial Waters
Est. Cost: N/A
We’ve all heard the saying, “That’s just the tip of the iceberg,” and this photo shows what that really means. When you see an iceberg, what is visible is just a small, free-floating part of the structure. Only around 10% of an iceberg can be seen above water.
The Underbelly of An Iceberg @WIREDScience /Twitter
The rest is below, and that’s what this picture showcases. The bummock, as it’s known, truly outsizes everything in its way. It’s easy to see how a block of ice like this was able to sink a ship as big as the Titanic.
132. Ship Breaking
Found In: Asia
Est. Cost: $494-$505 per LDT container*
Ship breaking is one of the world’s most dangerous jobs, and it involves breaking up a ship to source its parts. These parts, once “broken off” can be re-used or re-sold. Ship breaking is dangerous because it releases oil, asbestos, and other hazardous wastes.
Ship Breaking @r/urbanexploration/Reddit
There’s also the risk of a gigantic piece of metal falling on you. There are ship breaking yards in Bangladesh, China, India, and Pakistan, employing 250,000 workers to take apart massive ships that have passed their prime.
133. A School of Fish
Found In: Oceans
Est. Cost: N/A
Schools of fish contain hundreds of thousands of fish that travel together for their protection. When they travel together, these identical fish make it hard to pick out and hunt for just one, if you’re a predator.
A School of Fish @boredpanda/Pinterest
They seem to think this diver is a predator, as they’ve formed a circle to surround him. Not only is this tactic protective in nature, it also helps fish swim more efficiently and improve their foraging abilities. Plus, schooling just looks really cool.
134. Minazo, the Southern Elephant Seal
Found In: Enoshima Aquarium, Japan
Est. Cost: N/A (Passed Away in 2005)
Minazo was a Southern Elephant Seal who called Enoshima Aquarium in Japan home. He lived there from six months old until age eleven, when he passed away. Minazo was a gentle giant, popular for his tongue-lolling, bucket-holding pose.
Minazo, the Southern Elephant Seal @r/interestingasfuck/Reddit
He charmed visitors for years, and he held the distinction of being the largest seal Japan had in captivity. When Minazo passed away in ’05, people were greatly saddened, and the whole country mourned the loss.