Statues are built as celebrations of gods, historical events and important personalities. The tallest reach the sky and make you take notice of what they are commemorating. They are also works of art, and some have taken years to build. Here are some of the grandest ones ever built. 

Statue of Liberty, USA

The Statue of Liberty is the shortest statue on this list, at just 151 feet tall. However she gains height due to her 154 foot pedestal. The statue depicts the Roman goddess of freedom Libertas, and was a gift to the United States from France in 1886. 

Ten Directions Pu Xian Buddha, China

This dramatic gold colored 157 foot statue of the Buddha Samantabhadra can be found on Sichuan province’s Mount Emei. 

Sodoshima Dai-Kannon, Japan

This impressive landmark in Kagawa Prefecture, houses several prayer halls, an elevator, and an observation deck. This 164-foot masterpiece honors the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kannon. 

Peter the Great Statue, Russia

It's ironic that there is a statue of Peter the Great in Moscow, after all he had once moved the Russian capital away from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Nevertheless, this statue still made it on our list. At 315 feet, this statue is made of copper, bronze and stainless steel. 

Buddha in Aluthgama, Sri Lanka

The spectacular statue in coastal Aluthgama, Sri Lanka is considered the tallest sitting Buddha statue in the world at 160 feet. Built in 2007 it has become one of the country’s most important tourist destinations.

Guan Yin of the South Sea of Sanya, China

This breathtaking statue is the fourth tallest in the world at 354 feet, with 3 different faces representing the Guanyin. The statue is located in Nanshan Temple of Sanya.

Virgin of Peace, Venezuela

This concrete statue stands at 153 feet and is the tallest statue of the Virgin Mary. It is also the tallest sculpture in all of the Americas. Despite its grandeur, it does not receive many visitors. 

Great Buddha of Thailand

Thailand’s tallest statue is not only 300 feet tall but also 210 feet wide, and is the ninth tallest statue in the world. The cement statue is painted gold to represent the Gautama Buddha, the most important figure in Buddhism.

Mother of the Motherland, Ukraine

The largest statue in Eastern Europe is Kiev’s 203 foot Mother of Motherland. This stainless steel structure is part of the Museum of Great Patriotic War and weighs 560 tons. 

Ushiku Daibutsu, Japan

This 394 foot bronze statue has a 32 foot pedestal and represents the Amitabha Buddha. The structure is also fitted with an elevator, allowing visitors to enjoy a view from its observation platform. 

Leshan Giant Buddha, China

Facing Mount Emei at the intersection of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers is the Leshan Giant Buddha. This historic statue dating back to the 7^th century became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. 

Laykyun Setkyar, Myanmar

At 381 feet, the Laykyun Setkyar is the world’s second tallest statue, and represents the Gautama Buddha.

Spring Temple Buddha, China

Boasting the title of the tallest statue on earth is the Spring Temple Buddha, which can be visited in Zhoacun, Henan. If you include the 82 foot pedestal, this Buddha stands at 502 feet. The statue represents Vairocana Buddha and overlooks a Buddhist monastery.