Here are some facts about the Angel of the North.
- The Angel of the North is a steel sculpture, located in Gateshead in the north of England. It is on a hill on the south edge of Low Fell, overlooking two busy main roads.
- The sculpture was designed by Antony Gormley, a well known British artist. It is said to represent the transition from an industrial age to an information age, as well as symbolizing people’s dreams.
- The statue, which is orange in colour, resembles an angel and is 66 feet high. The outstretched wings are angled slightly forward and measure almost 180 feet across.
- A door provides access to the hollow interior, for safety inspections. The Angel of the North was designed to withstand 100 mph winds and to last for at least 100 years.
- An estimated 90,000 people every day see the Angel of the North, or one person every second, making it one of the most viewed works of art in the world.
- There is enough steel in the huge sculpture to make 16 double decker buses. The sculpture is anchored to the solid rock by huge 50 feet concrete piles.
- The sculpture, which is Britain’s largest, has been described as a masterpiece. However, its critics have said it looks a bit like a giant clothes peg.
- It took an entire day to assemble the sculpture and the event was broadcast on TV around the world. It was delivered to the site in 25 different sections.
- Almost 100 bolts attach each wing to the angel’s body. The sculpture also contains a hollow steel tube which adds stability and mirrors the shape of the body.
- A species of daffodil which is orange in colour and grows tall has been named the Angel of the North daffodil. The species is registered with Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society.
