Just how tall is 40 metres?
April 24, 2012 2:53 PM Subscribe
Help me think of something famous or common that is approximately 40 metres tall.
My daughter is doing a project on sessile oaks, which can grow to 40 metres. One of the questions asks her to show something that is taller than the tree, something that is the same height as the tree, and something that is smaller.
We have taller (the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament Buildings) and smaller (her school) but I can't think of anything for the same size. Ideally it would be something that an average (Canadian) 9 year old would recognize, so either something super famous or something very familiar. I'd prefer it to be one vertical thing, so not, for example, three school buses end to end. In a pinch I will use a 12 storey building, but I would love something with more visual impact. Hope me, MeFites!
My daughter is doing a project on sessile oaks, which can grow to 40 metres. One of the questions asks her to show something that is taller than the tree, something that is the same height as the tree, and something that is smaller.
We have taller (the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament Buildings) and smaller (her school) but I can't think of anything for the same size. Ideally it would be something that an average (Canadian) 9 year old would recognize, so either something super famous or something very familiar. I'd prefer it to be one vertical thing, so not, for example, three school buses end to end. In a pinch I will use a 12 storey building, but I would love something with more visual impact. Hope me, MeFites!
The statue of Christ that towers over Rio de Janeiro is 39.6m tall when you include the pedestal.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:57 PM on April 24, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:57 PM on April 24, 2012 [5 favorites]
If you don't need something permanent, the 2011 Japan Tsunami reached a maximum height of just about 40 meters.
posted by brainmouse at 2:57 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by brainmouse at 2:57 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian side of Niagara) is about 53 meters tall. It's close, but still a bit taller.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:57 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 2:57 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Statue of Liberty is ca. 45 meters tall, if that's familiar to them from films and TV.
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:01 PM on April 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:01 PM on April 24, 2012 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Most of the Confederation Bridge to PEI is 40 meters above the water.
posted by brainmouse at 3:01 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by brainmouse at 3:01 PM on April 24, 2012
Transmission towers (electricity pylons) range in size from 15m to 50m, although it's pretty common for them to be around 40-50m.
posted by pipeski at 3:03 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by pipeski at 3:03 PM on April 24, 2012
The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue in Mongolia.
posted by deanc at 3:08 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by deanc at 3:08 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The space shuttle (the orbiter, minus boosters and tank) is/was just under 40m in length - which is height, when it's on the launchpad.
posted by pipeski at 3:16 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by pipeski at 3:16 PM on April 24, 2012
In his first appearance Godzilla was fifty meters tall.
posted by XMLicious at 3:17 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by XMLicious at 3:17 PM on April 24, 2012
Response by poster: Pipeski, I was super excited about your suggestion. Only it turns out my 9 year old has no idea what the space shuttle is. I'm speechless.
posted by looli at 3:22 PM on April 24, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by looli at 3:22 PM on April 24, 2012 [10 favorites]
The length from 1st to 3rd base is 39 meters on a regulation baseball field.
posted by jeffch at 3:24 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by jeffch at 3:24 PM on April 24, 2012
The longest dinosaurs were around 40 meters long.
The tops of the RMS Titanic's funnels reached about 43 meters above water level.
posted by mbrubeck at 3:40 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
The tops of the RMS Titanic's funnels reached about 43 meters above water level.
posted by mbrubeck at 3:40 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
Got a dime? The main mast on the Bluenose was 38m.
posted by valleys at 4:37 PM on April 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by valleys at 4:37 PM on April 24, 2012 [2 favorites]
it's not a direct answer to your question, but it helps think about sizes and such - the megapenny project (made by mefi's own)
posted by nadawi at 5:00 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by nadawi at 5:00 PM on April 24, 2012
Wikipedia says the statue of liberty is 46 meters tall.
posted by aniola at 5:12 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by aniola at 5:12 PM on April 24, 2012
Best answer: Are you in Toronto? Wonder Mountain is 45m tall. Link
posted by dismitree at 6:32 PM on April 24, 2012
posted by dismitree at 6:32 PM on April 24, 2012
Response by poster: Hey dimistree, great minds think alike. I just googled "40 m rollercoaster" and got Montreal's Le Monstre. I'm thinking that or perhaps the Confederation Bridge as suggested by brainmouse.
I'll see what the tree-hugging, shuttle-spurner says tomorrow and come back and mark a best answer. Thanks!
posted by looli at 6:58 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'll see what the tree-hugging, shuttle-spurner says tomorrow and come back and mark a best answer. Thanks!
posted by looli at 6:58 PM on April 24, 2012 [1 favorite]
An Olympic-sized swimming pool is 50 metres, and a blue whale is about 30 meters. (Via Wolfram Alpha).
posted by oceano at 10:34 AM on April 25, 2012
posted by oceano at 10:34 AM on April 25, 2012
I'm to tired to do the math, but could you figure out how many stories would be in a building that tall? I think it's like 12 stories.
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:35 PM on April 25, 2012
posted by TooFewShoes at 8:35 PM on April 25, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by facetious at 2:55 PM on April 24, 2012