There are a whole host of things we can be scared of, from spiders to ghosts, darkness to silence. Some of these fears feel more rational than others, and they either develop over time or we carry them into adulthood from our childhood. One such fear that tends to be carried through from our formative years is Megalophobia. This bizarre psychological condition is the intense fear of oversized objects, such as giant buildings, vehicles, and animals. If the following collection of images gives you anxiety, you might have just self-diagnosed.
Wild Horses Could Almost Certainly Drag You Away
The Kelpies are a pair of 30-meter-high horse-head sculptures, located just outside Falkirk, a town in central Scotland. The sculptures represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, although, for those suffering from Megalophobia, they're probably more likely to represent the stuff of nightmares. The image here is especially terrifying thanks to a thunderbolt of lightning crashing down on top of the horse-heads — you can imagine how deafening their neighing would be!
We have to admit, megalophobia or otherwise, these sculptures — while undeniably impressive — would feel pretty creepy if you were the only person in the vicinity. You'd also want to watch your step at risk of falling into the water!
Ever Get The Feeling You're In Too Deep?
This incredible scene is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. What looks like an underwater waterfall, this plummeting, submerged shelf just off Mauritius Island is the thing of megalophobic nightmares. Not only megalophobia, those who suffer from thalassophobia — the persistent and intense fear of deep bodies of water — would also find this more than unnerving. If you suffer from both? Well, it's probably best you carry on scrolling and fast!
Now, while we don't necessarily believe in giant, sea-dwelling monsters, this would surely be the kind of place they'd be lurking if they did exist!
When You Say You Need Space But Take It A Little Too Far
This astonishing photo captures the legendary NASA astronaut, Bruce McCandless II as he floats, completely untethered, away from the safety of his space shuttle. McCandless was the first person in history to attempt this maneuver, relying solely on his manned unit to prevent him from drifting off into the depth of space. The confidence of McCandless to try this was quite staggering, as was his confidence in his equipment. Shoutout to whoever built that suit!
They say that nothing compares to the serenity experienced by astronauts in space, where sound is literally non-existent. Not exactly advisable for those who aren't comfortable around huge objects, however!
This Might Be A Little Too Big For The Fireplace
The scale of this redwood is almost behind comprehension. Sure, the lady standing next to it might not be the tallest, but this beast of a tree in the American wild is a wonder to behold. A very rational fear of this tree would be the thought of it falling down — hopefully, if it ever does, there won't be anyone in the vicinity otherwise it could be bad news.
These incredible redwoods can live for over 2,000 years and can grow an astonishing three to ten feet per year. What are they being fed?!
Let's Hope It Doesn't Ruin The Lawn
If you've ever wondered just how big cargo ships are, then this photo should give you some idea. The enormous size of the ship is put into context by the way it dwarfs everything on the shore it's approaching. We're not sure if the folk wandering around what looks like a golf course are aware of the ship, but we'd suggest moving slightly to the right. Or left. Or anywhere, quite frankly!
At first, this looks like two separate photos, but upon closer inspection, it's clear that the ship really is that big. Also, that's a pretty big wave!
When You Realize You Have A Mountain To Climb
Mount Fuji is an active volcano approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. The tallest peak in Japan, Fuji is 12,389 feet high and is considered one of the country's 3 sacred mountains. This view of the mountain is striking, showing just how close those living beneath it really are. Fuji last erupted in 1707, however, so residents of its nearby towns and villages are probably feeling confident.
This town surely has one of the most enviable views of anywhere in the world, although we doubt it has many — if any — megalophobic residents!
Taking A Few Steps To The Side Might Be Wise
Truly the stuff of nightmares, this looks like a giant ghost ship appearing out of the mist. Our advice to the guy staring up at it? Run for your life! This photo is spooky, so even people without megalophobia are likely to find it unnerving, but the sheer scale of the ship is sure to induce some anxiety for those who suffer from the unusual condition.
This image may be creepy to look at, but it would make an excellent poster for a horror movie! In fact, perhaps 'Megalophobia' could be the title?
Honey, Can You Remember To Pick Up Ice?
Okay, we appreciate the quaint location and everything, but are the residents of this cabin not slightly concerned about their impending doom should that iceberg decide to crumble? Presumably, getting house insurance on this place would be pretty difficult, if not impossible. We can only assume that those living in the cabin fall into the category of people who like to live life on the edge, quite literally!
Obvious danger aside, this is a truly remarkable backdrop and it must be amazing to wake up every morning and see this nature-made sculpture towering above.
Make Mine A Double!
It actually took us a minute to comprehend the size of these mining haul trucks. At first glance, they look like regular vehicles you'd see on any building site, but when you notice the school bus next to them... wow! School buses are by no means small, either, but it's dwarfed by the wheel of the truck alone. We're not sure what kind of license is required to drive one of these things — a joint one perhaps?!
What we're curious to know, however, is what on earth is a school bus doing here anyway? Surely the kids are a little young to be working down the mines just yet?
Things Are Hotting Up In Here
For those of you unsettled by huge objects, you'll probably know that nothing is quite as huge as the sun. For that reason, you might wish to skip past this one. That tiny black dot? It's actually the planet Mercury. Yep, that's how gargantuan the star at the center of the Solar System is. In general, humans love the sun — but only because it's 149.71 million kilometers away!
What's even more mind-boggling is that compared to many of the largest known stars, the sun is in fact relatively small. Yes, really.
When You're Literally Feeling Like A Snack
It may not surprise you to learn that a Godzilla museum recently opened in Japan. Aside from the giant lizard himself, it's unclear what else might be on display at the museum, although this zip-line experience directly into the beast's mouth is probably worth the entry fee alone. That's unless you happen to have megalophobia or find the idea of being eaten alive by a terrifying creature, well, terrifying.
Some people will absolutely love this experience, of course. What we're desperate to know, is, where do you end up once you've been swallowed into that ginormous blue-lit throat? We're trying to not use our imagination here...
He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
You can almost imagine this pair of giant hands malfunctioning and slowly snapping the bridge in two! That's probably where your mind goes if you're not hot on giant objects, a category this structure certainly fits into. We have to hand it to the Golden Bridge in Ba Na Hills, Vietnam — these are pretty cool. The hands are actually constructed from fiberglass and wire mesh and were designed to appear like stone hands that support the structure.
The question is, would you put your life in their hands? Plenty of people do — the Golden Bridge attracts almost 3 million visitors every year.
Win A Year's Worth Of Dog Treats!
This doggy might have its work cut out dragging this bone home! Presumably appearing on the beach after the tide had gone in, this whale spine gives you an idea of just how huge the world's largest mammal really is. It looks like the whale passed away a very long time ago, as there would have been a vast amount of flesh around that bone.
We're not sure this would be overly disturbing for someone with megalophobia — presumably, it would be worse if the whale was still all in one piece, lying beside the dog instead!
Well That's Pretty Dam Big
Somewhat appropriately, our first reaction to seeing this monumental construction was: 'dam!' Truly an impressive feat of manmade design, this dam is responsible for holding back a body of water so vast it's impossible to comprehend. This enormous structure is bound to raise anxiety levels for megalophobic readers, but it's also likely to freak out anyone who suffers from vertigo. We're not sure how high that drop is, but it's high enough thank you very much.
Did you know that dams are a triple threat — they can be used to store water, control flooding, and generate electricity. Three incredibly useful assets. (Although most people don't give a dam.)
Apparently She's Big In Japan
Sendai Daikannon is a large (well, enormous) statue of the goddess Byakue Kannon, located in Sendai, Japan. Bearing a gem in her hand, it is the tallest statue of a goddess anywhere in Japan and is the fifth tallest statue in the world at 330 feet. It's difficult to imagine a statue being any bigger than this — there was us thinking the Stature of Liberty was impressive!
Hopefully, the Sendai Daikannon is structurally sound. We hate to imagine the carnage she'd cause if she were to topple over. The stuff of nightmares!
Can You Just Crab This Leg For Me Please
Forget megalophobia, this giant spider crab is enough to give anyone nightmares. When you look at the body, it's not all that huge, but those 10 sprawling legs make this creature truly terrifying. We can't quite work out if this crab is alive and the guy in the photo is wrestling with it, or whether it's dead and part of a museum exhibition. We really hope it's the latter. If not, the cameraman needs to put his camera down and offer some help!
While this crab might look scary, the creature has far better reason to be scared of us. Considered a delicacy in Japan, conservation efforts are being put in place to protect this species and its population from the dangers of overfishing.
Has Anyone Got The Time?
Are anyone else's palms sweaty? Just ours then? This is not a comfortable photo for anyone who suffers from even mild vertigo, and the sheer scale of the clock face of the Abraj Al-Bait takes a moment to comprehend. The government-owned skyscraper in Mecca, Saudi Arabia is the tallest in a complex of seven hotels, in a project aimed to modernize the city for its many visiting pilgrims.
We really hope the lady on the ledge of the Abraj Al-Bait is okay. It's unclear how one would access this ledge, although there are photos of others sitting in this precarious spot.
The Perfect Treehouse Location Doesn't Exi—
There is something mesmeric about the giant sequoia tree. Found natively in groves on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, these coniferous beasts have been known to reach 300 feet tall — the same height as the Eiffel Tower! These trees can also live for thousands of years, although their existence continues to be threatened by the increase in forest fires in recent years.
Not one for those with a fear of large objects — while the tree's height might be anxiety-inducing, the diameter of a sequoia trunk can reach a staggering 60 feet.
That's An Impressive Chain You Have There
This image of a pile of anchor chains isn't particularly remarkable until you notice the two grown men standing in the middle! The sheer size of these links is a sight to behold — then again, the anchor that they're attached to is enormous and the depth of the ocean floor requires these chains to be hundreds of feet long. Feeling small yet?
We're not entirely sure what these two guys have been sent into the pit of chains to do, but we hope they manage to climb out before it's time to drop the anchor!
Something Smells A Bit Fishy
This slightly surprised-looking creature is an ocean sunfish, commonly known as a Mola mola. The Mola mola is the world's largest known bony fish, weighing in at anywhere between 250 to 1,000 kilograms. Even though the colossal size of the fish is likely to terrify megalophobic readers, they aren't actually harmful to humans, but rather focus their attention on small fish, squid, and crustaceans. Just try not to get squashed!
If you wish to avoid bumping into one of these titans, it's best to stay away from tropical and temperate waters around the world, where they tend to hang out.
Probably Best To Be Snappy In There
Sure, this saltwater crocodile is massive, but a fear of this ancestor of dinosaurs isn't restricted to a fear of large objects. There aren't many people out there who wouldn't be terrified at the sight of this lurking in the water. The largest living reptile known to science, the saltwater crocodile can grow to a length of up to 20 feet and a weight of 1,000-1,300 kilograms.
Quite why this lady thinks it's a good idea to hop into the water next to the enormous reptile is anyone's guess. Let's hope that the perspex cylinder does its job!
It Would Seem The Hills Have Eyes
This photo of Lochaber, Scotland is quite breathtaking; it's both beautiful and eerie in equal measure. It might be just us, but it looks like the hills above the town have a pair of eyes — could it be the famous Nessie herself? If so, this little town doesn't stand a chance. The Scottish Highlands probably isn't an advisable tourist destination for those who suffer from megalophobia, with huge, rolling mountains and large bodies of still water.
On a side note — we hope the crew aboard that poor stranded fishing vessel are okay! It looks close enough to shore to hop off for the night, however.
It Just Decided To Uproot And Leave
We're not sure how tall the human admiring the base of this tree is, but we'd suggest just under 6 feet at the very least. This gives you an idea of the insane diameter of this enormous tree that's found itself beached, presumably washed ashore by the waves. Given that the tree is without its roots, it's probably been sat there for a while and won't be going anywhere any time soon!
If you're scared of giant objects, the only thing worse than seeing this tree would be witnessing it falling down. Can you imagine the noise it would make? Fore!!
Taking The Idea Of Wind Power Slightly Too Far
We'll forgive you if it took you a while to locate the wind turbines that are completely dwarfed by this terrifying tornado, sweeping across the land somewhere in North America. As you'll know, wind turbines are pretty big themselves — usually over 300 feet (about the same height as London's Big Ben). This image here shows why tornadoes are so devastating since there's nothing that can feasibly halt their path.
Whether seeing huge things like this gives you anxiety or not it's best to drive (or run) away from a tornado as fast as possible. Instagram can wait!
When You Need A Helping Hand
It's fair to say that this scores equally high on both the creepy and the cool scale. These hands are the handiwork (get it?) of Italian sculptor, Lorenzo Quinn, and represent something of a trademark for the artist — he has giant hands elsewhere in Venice. It has to be said, these would look especially creepy at nighttime, reaching out of the Venitian water and snatching an unsuspecting resident from their balcony!
The sheer scale of the hands is what makes them so effective (or frightening). Made of Resin, they symbolize humankind's capability to destroy the world, yet also its equal capability to save the world too.
Ever Get The Feeling You're Being Watched?
You're almost expecting it to blink at any second! This incredible 'dragon's eye' is tucked away in a hidden cave in West Lancashire, UK, its exact location kept secret by local residents and a few close-knit urban explorers. In fact, the cave can only be accessed by crawling through a window in the floor, which lends further to comparisons with something from a J. R. R. Tolkien novel.
The 'eye' is enormous, pretty much true to the scale of a dragon (were they to exist). There's something creepy about being watched, so this is an adventure best avoided if you ever feel megalophobic.
That's A Whole Lot Of Space
For those with a fear of large objects, there can be nothing more alarming than the concept of space. The enormity of space and its solar system is so huge it's almost difficult to put into perspective. The vast distances between known planets and stars are such that we talk about them in time rather than miles or kilometers. Saturn, emerging from behind the moon here is 3,000 times as far away from us on earth as the moon.
In fact, Saturn has a radius 20 times that of the moon. Imagine how vast the planet would look if we were to be able to get closer — some of you would rather not know, we're sure!
When Something's Towering Over You
This medieval-looking outpost was built in the 1800s to commemorate the end of the Seven Years War between Britain and France and the accession of King George III. The tower, named 'King Alfred's Tower', supposedly stands near the location where Alfred the Great, King of Wessex rallied his Saxon troops before the Battle of Ethandun in the year 878. The tower itself is a folly — it has no practical use, although the view on a clear day is said to be pretty good!
Alfred's Tower might not be the most overwhelmingly large building, but the tiny person at its base really gives you some perspective of how it dominates the surrounding landscape.
Honey, You Left The Hose On!
This may look like a scene from an apocalyptic movie, but it is in fact a fairly common weather occurrence called a waterspout. These water-based vortexes usually form in the tropics and other subtropical areas. Now, while waterspouts aren't as devastating as their land-based cousin, the tornado, you wouldn't want to be caught anywhere near one in a small craft. Row, row, row your boat!
There's something unnerving about the juxtaposition of this photo. On the one hand, you have the destructive whirlwind of water, yet also in the shot is a tranquil-looking palm tree and setting sun.
It's Fair To Say They're Out Of Their Depth
Well, we can confidently assume that this happy paddler does not suffer from megalophobia! The sheer scale of this aircraft carrier is truly mesmerizing, and much like an iceberg so much of the ship is actually submerged. These vessels have to be enormous in order to service and carry more than 75 aircraft, thousands of crew members, and everything else in between.
It's not just the enormous ship, but also the deep, dark water it sits in that would put us off paddling around its vicinity in a canoe. We'd rather be in the carrier's canteen, thanks very much.
When Your Halloween Costume Is On Point
Forget huge objects, this is damned right scary full stop! It's difficult to know how big this, err, creature is since there's nothing in the shot to give it scale, but it looks pretty sizable. To make matters worse, the location is an actual mausoleum, surely making it the world's creepiest Halloween venue? The object is in fact an old prop from a movie, but it's clearly found success in its new role of scaring the life out of passers-by.
In all seriousness, can you imagine stumbling upon this thing while urban exploring at night? You'd have to pinch yourself to check that you hadn't stepped into an actual nightmare!
Anyone Else Getting Tunnel Vision?
This enormous underground cathedral-type structure is in fact an incredible feat of engineering. We know it would make a seriously cool nightclub venue, but these tunnels are solely for the purpose of entertaining water. The world's largest underground flood water diversion facility, the Tokyo flood tunnels were built in 2009 to mitigate the overflowing of the city's major waterways and rivers during rain and typhoon seasons.
You can tell how intimidatingly large this structure is from the tiny humans wandering around its cavernous floor. While the flood tunnels may protect Tokyo residents and their homes, it's not exactly the kind of place someone with megalophobia would want to spend too much time in!
Stop! Roo Goes There?
There are many things that make day-to-day life in Australia somewhat dangerous. The deadly spiders, the poisonous snakes, the lurking crocodiles, etc. Oh, and that's before we even mention the extreme weather conditions. Something else we need to add to that list, apparently, is jacked-up kangaroos! This muscle-bound, 2 meter (6.5 feet) tall, 95 kilo (209 lbs) heavy marsupial is clearly the only sheriff in town, terrorizing residents with his intimidating strut and, presumably, bone-breaking leg kick.
Known by locals as 'Roger', this 'roo is enough to make any sensible person run a mile — and hope that Roger isn't up for a chase!
So That's What You Meant By Skeletons In Your Closet?
Now, we know that Americans love nothing more than Halloween and all the decorations that go along with it, but come on! This giant skeleton is surely a (big) step too far? What's clear is that you need a pretty big house, or yard, to welcome this bony friend into your home — perhaps this would reduce the impact of its size? Okay, that's unlikely since it's absolutely huge!
Again, this will terrify most people walking past at night (or during the day, for that matter) not just those who are uncomfortable with large objects. The answer? Avoid the US for the entire month of October.
This View Is Clouding Your Judgement
In theory, living in a residential skyscraper should at least guarantee you one thing: a good view. However, since property developers in Dubai seem to be on a mission to Mars, the buildings are in fact so tall that they're literally in the clouds! Rather than just waking up and smelling the coffee, this resident woke up and got a good smell of the thinnest air in the atmosphere.
The tallest skyscraper in Dubai is the Burj Khalifa. Completed in 2009, this giant needle in the desert boasts 156 floors and tops out at a stomach-turning 2,717 feet.
Enough To Make Your Legs Turn To Jelly
We can't think of many better ways to spoil a beautiful dusk sky than... a flying squid. Fortunately, for the more paranoid among us, squids don't fly — although this kite does a great job of convincing us otherwise. It's unclear how big the kite is exactly, but it definitely towers above the cars in this parking lot. Even though upon closer inspection, the squid isn't really a squid, we certainly wouldn't stop to take a photo, just in case!
Fans of Harry Potter might spot a resemblance here to the terrifying Dementors — the gliding, wraithlike creatures who were widely considered to be one of the foulest to inhabit the wizarding world.
Why Are You Acting Salty?
This architectural marvel is in fact a salt mine. Not just any salt mine — the largest in Europe, no less. Tucked away in the town of Slănic in Prahova county, Romania, the Slănic Prahova has a ceiling height of around 150 feet. In fact, the entire town of Slănic is a salt haven, boasting two salt lakes along with the mine, as well as being a natural source of spring water.
This cavernous place is also reminiscent of a scene from a J. R. R. Tolkien novel — you can almost imagine being chased through its halls by a horde of orcs!
That Motorbike Never Looked More Tempting
This astonishing photo shows Mount St. Helens mid-eruption, on May 18, 1980. The deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in US history, 57 people lost their lives and there was widespread damage to surrounding houses and infrastructure, at a cost of $1 billion. Located in Washington state, the cause of the eruption is said to be an earthquake hitting below the north face of the mountain that triggered the largest landslide in recorded history.
Being anywhere in the vicinity of the volcano when it erupted would have potentially had deadly consequences, although the motorbike-riding photographer here was clearly calm as a cucumber!
That's A Little Bit Sneaky
Well, all we can say to the leopard on this occasion is, good luck! The giraffe it has its eye on for lunch stands incredibly tall — they can grow to almost 20 feet, and their powerful legs have been known to kill a lion. Still, this clearly hasn't put off the presumably hungry big cat. To be fair, while the giraffe may be enormous, it's surely too graceful to be afraid of? A leopard the size of a giraffe, on the other hand? We'd be running like the wind.
The chances are, this leopard isn't hunting on its own. These skirmishes tend to be more effective in packs — the giraffe should have a decent view of things, however!
The Game Of Jenga Was Getting Far Too Serious
Have you ever seen a pile of wood this high? Neither have we. It's fascinating to see how timber was harvested in the days before huge machinery, although we'd like to think that the guy perched on his platform wasn't expected to deal with it all by himself! Perhaps he just spotted a great photo opportunity for the Instagram of his time.
We hope there was some health and safety in place at this timber yard. Chance wood be a fine thing.