The world's biggest bonfire is built annually in Alesund, Norway to celebrate Sankthans, or Midsummer, which commemorates John the Baptist's birth. For this festival, wood pallets are stacked over 40 meters high on an artificial island to form Slinningsbålet bonfire. In 2010, a record was set with a structure reaching 40.45 meters tall. About 30-40 people help build the bonfire, which someone must climb to the top of and light from above to ensure it burns safely down.
2. To see the world’s biggest bonfire you’ll have to visit Alesund, Norway, where
wood pallets are stacked over 40 meters (131 ft) high on an artificial island.
The occasion? Sankthans, or ‘Midsummer’, an annual festival in
commemoration of John the Baptist’s birth. The day is celebrated on the 24th
of June (around summer solstice) in Scandinavian countries and other parts
of Europe.
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 30-40 pepole partake 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.