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Statues
are built as celebrations of gods, historical events and important
personalities. The tallest reach the sky and make you take notice of
what they are commemorating. They are also works of art, and some have
taken years to build. Here are some of the grandest ones ever built.
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Statue of Liberty, USA
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The
Statue of Liberty is the shortest statue on this list, at just 151 feet
tall. However she gains height due to her 154 foot pedestal. The statue
depicts the Roman goddess of freedom Libertas, and was a gift to the
United States from France in 1886.
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Ten Directions Pu Xian Buddha, China
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This dramatic gold colored 157 foot statue of the Buddha Samantabhadra can be found on Sichuan province’s Mount Emei.
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Sodoshima Dai-Kannon, Japan
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This
impressive landmark in Kagawa Prefecture, houses several prayer halls,
an elevator, and an observation deck. This 164-foot masterpiece honors
the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon.
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Peter the Great Statue, Russia
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It's
ironic that there is a statue of Peter the Great in Moscow, after all
he had once moved the Russian capital away from Moscow to St.
Petersburg. Nevertheless, this statue still made it on our list. At 315
feet, this statue is made of copper, bronze and stainless steel.
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Buddha in Aluthgama, Sri Lanka
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The
spectacular statue in coastal Aluthgama, Sri Lanka is considered the
tallest sitting Buddha statue in the world at 160 feet. Built in 2007 it
has become one of the country’s most important tourist destinations.
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Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya, China
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This
breathtaking statue is the fourth tallest in the world at 354 feet,
with 3 different faces representing the Guanyin. The statue is located
in Nanshan Temple of Sanya.
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Virgin of Peace, Venezuela
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This
concrete statue stands at 153 feet and is the tallest statue of the
Virgin Mary. It is also the tallest sculpture in all of the Americas.
Despite its grandeur, it does not receive many visitors.
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Great Buddha of Thailand
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Thailand’s
tallest statue is not only 300 feet tall but also 210 feet wide, and is
the ninth tallest statue in the world. The cement statue is painted
gold to represent the Gautama Buddha, the most important figure in
Buddhism.
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Mother of the Motherland, Ukraine
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The
largest statue in Eastern Europe is Kiev’s 203 foot Mother of
Motherland. This stainless steel structure is part of the Museum of
Great Patriotic War and weighs 560 tons.
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Ushiku Daibutsu, Japan
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This
394 foot bronze statue has a 32 foot pedestal and represents the
Amitabha Buddha. The structure is also fitted with an elevator, allowing
visitors to enjoy a view from its observation platform.
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Leshan Giant Buddha, China
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Facing
Mount Emei at the intersection of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers
is the Leshan Giant Buddha. This historic statue dating back to the 7th century became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
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Laykyun Setkyar, Myanmar
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At 381 feet, the Laykyun Setkyar is the world’s second tallest statue, and represents the Gautama Buddha.
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Spring Temple Buddha, China
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Boasting
the title of the tallest statue on earth is the Spring Temple Buddha,
which can be visited in Zhoacun, Henan. If you include the 82 foot
pedestal, this Buddha stands at 502 feet. The statue represents
Vairocana Buddha and overlooks a Buddhist monastery.
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