Record-breaking sandcastle built in Denmark
The world’s tallest sandcastle has been constructed in Denmark, standing more than 20 metres high and made up of nearly 5000 tonnes of sand, according to its designers.
At 21.16 metres tall, the castle is over three metres taller than the previous holder of the title which was built in Germany in 2019, according to Guinness World Records.
Using a total of 4860 tonnes of sand, the intricately decorated structure was designed by Wilfred Stijger and built with the assistance of 30 of the world’s best sand sculptors in the small seaside town of Blokhus.
Stijger said he wanted the structure to represent the power coronavirus has had over the world since the start of the pandemic, and topped the sandcastle with a model of the virus wearing a crown.
“It’s ruling our lives everywhere,” Stijger said. “It tells you what to do … It tells you to stay away from your family and not go to nice places. Don’t do activities, stay home.”
To stabilise the sandcastle against the chilly and windy conditions of the autumn and winter, the sand contains approximately 10 percent clay and a layer of glue that was applied after completion.
Blokhus residents have enjoyed the local features incorporated into the sandcastle, such as beach houses and lighthouses, and depictions of windsurfing and kitesurfing.
The castle is expected to stand until around early next year, until the onset of heavy frost.