Buzz
Humanity often challenges the limits of established norms with creations so remarkable that they become more than just their individual components. The Eiffel Tower, a French cultural landmark, was initially met with skepticism, but over time its allure has captivated people around the world.
It may come as a surprise that from 1925 to 1936, French automobile company Citroen used this remarkable structure for the mundane purpose of advertising their brand. In fact, the very reason the Eiffel Tower avoided demolition was its function as a radiotelegraph communications tower during World War I, an unglamorous role for one of the world’s most romanticized landmarks.
While the Eiffel Tower serves a functional purpose, it remains an extraordinary creation. But what about other human-made things that are seemingly ordinary or even mundane in their creation and nature? Let’s explore 10 creations that are so exceptional they rise above their humble origins.
10. The Niesenbahn Funicular Service Stairway
You might think that the longest stairway in the world would be found in a towering skyscraper, but in reality, the record belongs to the service stairway alongside the Niesenbahn Funicular railway near Spiez, Switzerland. This stairway boasts an impressive 11,674 steps, earning it the Guinness World Record for the longest staircase globally. To help visualize the scale, the stairway stretches kilometers (2.2 miles) and ascends a dramatic 1,669 meters (5,476 feet).
Before rushing off to conquer this monumental stairway, you’ll need to register in advance, as it is only accessible to workers—unless you’re part of the annual stairway race, where you can pay to run up the stairs for more than an hour. While that may sound grueling, it’s worth noting that the stunning views of Switzerland’s landscapes make it a somewhat worthwhile challenge.
9. The Vault Door of the Cleveland Federal Reserve
From its installation in 1923 to its decommissioning in 1996, the 1.5-meter-thick (5 ft) vault door at the Cleveland Federal Reserve was the largest of its kind in the world. Weighing a staggering 100 tons, just the swinging section of the door was equivalent to the weight of an unloaded Boeing 757, and its 5.5-meter (18 ft) hinge added another 47 tons. Despite its immense weight, it was so perfectly balanced that a single person could open and close it with ease.
The door was so massive and heavy that when it needed to be transported from York, Pennsylvania, to Cleveland, Ohio, the largest railcar in the United States had to be used. The route was meticulously planned to avoid bridges, as the immense weight of the door could have caused them to collapse. Once in Cleveland, unloading the door from the railcar took two entire days. Due to the lack of a crane strong enough to lift it, enormous hydraulic jacks were employed. Furthermore, moving the door from the rail station to the bank—just 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) away—took an additional four days.
8. Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C
The Emma Maersk, the longest ship in the world, is a sight to behold. Stretching 397 meters (1,302 feet), it is nearly as tall as the world's tallest skyscrapers. Holding the title of the world’s longest ship since 2007, its real marvel lies in its power. It’s only fitting that such a colossal ship is driven by the largest reciprocating engine ever built: the Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C, an engine that is roughly the size of a small three-story apartment building.
To simplify, this massive engine produces 110,000 horsepower and weighs in at a whopping 2,500 tons. For perspective, the average car engine has around 150 horsepower and weighs about 160 kilograms (350 lb). Despite its enormous size, the Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C operates with impressive efficiency, though it still consumes 39.5 barrels of fuel every hour, and costs $46 per minute to run.
7. The Delaware Aqueduct
While many of us enjoy the luxury of instantly accessible clean water, few consider the incredible engineering feats that make something as simple as filling a glass possible. Not all cities had the foresight to settle near a reliable water source, and New York City was one such place. The first permanent well was dug in 1677, and nearly a century later, in 1776, the first reservoir was built to deliver water to 22,000 residents using hollow logs. As the city's population grew, aqueducts became the solution to provide water, leading to the construction of the Delaware Aqueduct in 1944 to meet the increasing demand.
To this day, the Delaware Aqueduct continues to supply half of New York City's drinking water. Stretching 137 kilometers (85 miles), it holds the title of the world’s longest continuous tunnel. The deepest point of the aqueduct is located 450 meters (1,500 feet) underground, an astonishing achievement considering it was built by drilling and blasting through solid rock. Remarkably efficient, 95 percent of the water flows through the tunnel purely by gravity, delivering a staggering 1.9 billion liters (500 million gallons) of water per day. However, it leaks up to 130 million liters (35 million gallons) daily—a problem that has persisted since 1988. To address this, New York plans to invest $1.2 billion in diversion tunnels by 2019.
6. KVLY-TV Television Mast
Before the Burj Khalifa claimed the title of the world’s tallest man-made structure in 2010, the KVLY-TV antenna in North Dakota held the record. Constructed in just 33 days by a team of 11 men, the antenna reached an impressive height of 628.8 meters (2,063 feet). The sheer height of the tower means that if one of the workers had accidentally dropped a wrench from the top, it would have been falling at a speed of 400 kilometers per hour (250 mph)—fast enough to cause serious damage if it landed on your feet.
For those with a sense of adventure, there’s a narrow two-person elevator that ascends 594 meters (1,950 feet) up the tower. However, to reach the final 275 meters (900 feet)—where the antenna begins—you’ll need to climb. The winds up top can reach 112 kilometers per hour (70 mph), and the tower itself can sway by as much as 3 meters (10 feet). So, perhaps it’s wiser to stick to the Burj Khalifa’s air-conditioned observation deck instead.
5. The Australian BHP Iron Ore Train
Ever been caught behind a train stretching 7.3 kilometers (4.6 miles) long? At first, it may not seem all that impressive, but consider this: the train consists of 682 cars with a combined weight nearing 100,000 tons, making it the longest and heaviest train ever to operate. The marvel doesn’t stop there—it’s controlled by just one driver, utilizing the power of eight massive General Electric Diesel locomotives evenly spaced throughout the train to maximize traction and braking efficiency.
BHP Iron Ore is well accustomed to operating colossal trains, frequently running trains of a similar size to the one in question. This means that, at any given moment, their trains are some of the largest in the world. If you find yourself stuck behind one of these giants at a railroad crossing, it may be wise to turn around and find another way.
4. The Luxor Sky Beam
Though lightbulbs are a common part of everyday life, few can rival the light perched atop the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. This beam holds the title of being the second brightest artificial light on Earth. Known as the 'sky beam' in Las Vegas, it relies on 39 xenon-powered lamps paired with reflectors. These aren’t your average bulbs, however—each one costs around $1,200 and consumes 7,000 watts of power. When all the lamps are combined, they produce a staggering 40 billion candlepower. The light is so powerful that it has been spotted by airline pilots from as far as 430 kilometers (270 miles) away in Los Angeles, and the temperature around the lamps reaches 260°C (500°F).
While the beam’s intensity is impressive, it was even more remarkable when it was first installed in the 1990s. The hotel once claimed that astronaut Daniel Brandenstein had said the light was so intense that it could wake his fellow astronauts aboard the space shuttle. Though that story was debunked as a hoax, the Luxor sky beam remains a powerful navigational tool for Las Vegas locals, with many admitting to using it for this very purpose.
3. SEA-ME-WE-3
Submarine telecommunication cables often go unnoticed, but they play a crucial role in connecting the world. While it might seem like satellites are the primary means of communication in our fast-paced, tech-driven world, the truth is most of our global data still travels along long, winding cables, just as it did when the internet was first established. SEA-ME-WE-3, which holds the title of the world’s longest, spans an impressive 39,000 kilometers (24,233 miles). Finished in 2000, the cable runs from England to Australia, touching 39 landing points across 33 countries on four continents.
What’s truly astonishing is how simple and unassuming these cables are. Modern submarine fiber optic cables, such as SEA-ME-WE-3, have a diameter of just 6.8 centimeters (2.7 inches), which includes a rubber outer layer, protective synthetic padding, copper insulation, and the optical fibers themselves. In essence, they aren’t all that different from the Ethernet cables you might have at home, though the potential consequences of a malfunction are far more significant. Anyone who’s ever dealt with a broken data cable knows the frustration—and the same thing can happen to these underwater cables too.
A slight mistake by a ship’s navigator or the curiosity of a sea creature can cut through a cable, leaving millions of users without internet access. Even the mighty SEA-ME-WE-3 isn’t immune to such risks. In 2005, the cable was damaged, and Pakistan found itself essentially cut off from the rest of the world for several weeks.
2. The Aerium
Businesses often collapse, and the more ambitious ones leave behind massive, unneeded facilities. It’s easier to sell a typical office building than something as unique as an aircraft hangar measuring 210 meters (688 feet) wide and 107 meters (350 feet) tall. That was the dilemma faced by the German airship company CargoLifter AG in 2002 when they declared bankruptcy. Thankfully, a Malaysian company named Tanjong had an extravagant plan to repurpose the world’s largest freestanding building into an indoor water park and resort, providing a surprising new life for the space.
The result is truly remarkable. While the structure may have originally been just a gigantic aircraft hangar, and the resort itself isn’t too different from other similar attractions for tourists and business moguls, the combination of the two makes for one of the most unexpectedly fascinating man-made wonders in the world. How big is the world’s largest freestanding building, you ask? The Aerium is large enough to house the Statue of Liberty standing up or the Eiffel Tower lying on its side. Its floor space alone is large enough to fit eight American football fields. With so much room, it’s no surprise that it features a 2,700-square-meter (9,000 sq ft) pool, complete with 180 meters (600 feet) of sandy shoreline. Furthermore, it boasts the world’s largest indoor rainforest, home to 50,000 trees.
1. Large European Acoustic Facility
The Large European Acoustic Facility (LEAF) is so deafeningly loud, it could potentially be lethal. Without delving too deep into how the scientists learned this, let’s explain one of the most potent artificial sound systems in the world in simpler terms. At its core, the LEAF is essentially a highly enhanced sound system that pumps sound waves into a specially designed room, much like a loud stereo playing inside a small, echoey closet. The difference is that the room stands 15 meters (50 feet) tall and the system is powered by nitrogen, generating sound waves just 40 decibels lower than a TNT explosion.
The LEAF is primarily used to test if satellites and other electronics can endure the intense sound levels produced during takeoff. Rocket launches are among the loudest man-made noises on Earth, and their sound waves can damage sensitive equipment sent into space. And yes, the LEAF is dangerous enough to kill you. As a safeguard, the system is designed with a fail-safe that prevents it from being activated unless the door is securely closed.
