In a world addicted to breaking world records, all’s fair in love and war. Alesund, Norway, is no different. Wood pallets were piled up over 40 meters (131 ft) high on an man made island for the Sankthans, or ‘Midsummer’, the annual festival to commemoration John the Baptist’s birth.
In Alesund, the traditional bonfire, known as Slinningsbålet, is taken to the extreme. In 2010, a record was set for the tallest bonfire at 40.45 meters (132.71 ft). The previous record was 37.84 meters (124.14 ft) set in 1993. The base of the structure is approximately 20 meters wide (65.6 ft).
About 40 people took in the build, and to light the structure someone must climb to the top to ignite it. If the fire doesn’t burn from top to bottom things could end badly. Be sure to check out the video above of this post for a recap of this crazy event.
The day is celebrated on the 24th of June (around summer solstice) in Scandinavian countries and other parts of Europe.
Photo by Staale Watto/Sunnmørsposten
Photo by Kenneth Enstad
Photo by Kenneth Enstad
Photo by Torgeir Elveland
Photo by Geir Halvorsen
Photo via masterok.livejournal.com
Photo by Geir Halvorsen
Photo by Geir Halvorsen
Photo by Geir Halvorsen
Photo by Marius Helland Bøstrand
Photo by Marius Helland Bøstrand
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