The World's Tallest Statues

Statues are built as celebrations of gods, historical events  and important personalities. The tallest try reach the sky  and make you take notice of what they are commemorating.  They are also works of art, and can take years to build.  Here are some of the grandest ones ever built.

Statue of Liberty, USA

The Statue of Liberty is the shortest statue on this list at just  151 feet tall; however she gains height because the statue  rests on a 154 foot pedestal. The statue depicts the Roman  goddess of freedom Libertas and was a gift to the United  States from France in 1886.

Ten Directions Pu Xian Buddha, China

This dramatic gold colored 157 foot statue of the Buddha  Samantabhadra can be found on Sichuan province’s Mount Emei.

Sodoshima Dai-Kannon, Japan

This impressive landmark in the Kagawa Prefecture houses several  prayer halls, an elevator, and an observation deck. This 164 foot  \masterpiece honors the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon.

Peter the Great Statue, Russia

The fact that the monument to Peter the Great is located in the  Russian capital of Moscow is ironic, considering the commemorated  once moved the capital to St. Petersburg. This imposing 315 tall statue  is made of copper, bronze and stainless steel.

Buddha in Aluthgama, Sri Lanka

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.

Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya, China

This breathtaking statue is the fourth tallest in the world at 354 feet  tall, with 3 different faces and represents the Guanyin. The statue is  located in Nanshan Temple of Sanya.

Virgin of Peace, Venezuela

This concrete statue stands 153 feet tall 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.

Great Buddha of Thailand

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.

Mother of the Motherland, Ukraine

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

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.

Leshan Giant Buddha, China

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.

Laykyun Setkyar, Myanmar

At 381 feet tall the Laykyun Setkyar is the world’s second tallest  statue, and represents the Gautama Buddha.

Spring Temple Buddha, China

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.