Some of the oddest items in the country include the world’s largest ball of twine, which began many years ago and is still growing.
On Christmas Eve of 1953, a local farmer, Frank Stoeber, began winding twine on his farm. This twine was typically the leftover twine and it was tossed out from bales of hay or straw. When his neighbors got word of what he was doing, they began bringing him their twine to help him grow the large ball into what has become a symbol of thrift. By 1961, this item had grown to such a large size that it had to be moved into town under a shelter to allow all to see it.
This massive ball of twine has become a must-see roadside attraction that is located in Cawker City, Kansas. Frank has passed away since his ball began and grew to massive proportions, but the community around it still adds to it with an annual Twine-Athon which is held on the third weekend of August each year.
You too can add to the ball
You might think the world’s largest ball of twine was done growing and at a set size, but that’s not the case. For many years, the caretaker of the ball, and yes, there is such a person, has driven around with twine in her trunk. If she spots tourists checking out the incredibly odd attractions, she asks if they want to add to the twine. This allows many people to be part of the history of this massive ball of sisal twine. As of September 2009, the Ball of Twin weighed 19,198 pounds and was 7,974,454 feet long. That is 1,510.31 miles of twine.
The crazy thing about this ball is that it’s still growing.
What if only one person did the work?
Another massive ball of twine is located in Darwin, Minnesota. This is the World’s Largest Ball of Sisal Twin that’s been wound by one man. The ball checks in at 17,400 pounds and is nearly 40 feet in circumference.
There’s a larger ball of plastic twin, but it weighs much less. It doesn’t seem right to compare plastic twine to these two sisal giants made from natural materials.
What are a few other world’s largest items?
Some roadside attractions along Route 66 claim to be the world’s largest, but not all of them are. Still, its fun to think about and I you’re planning a trip, maybe you want to see some of the world’s largest items and what they showcase. Here are a few.
Largest Subterranean River
The Son Doong Caves is home to the world’s largest subterranean River, and it was founded in 1991. This cave is located in Vietnam. The cave system is difficult for experienced cave hikers, with a steep decline and amazing acoustics that make it seem extra eerie and windy inside the cave system.
World’s Largest Mall
The Dubai Mall is known as the largest in the world by area. It’s nearly 13 million square feet in size and has nearly 1,200 retail shops. There’s an ice rink, an underwater zoo, a large waterfall, and an aquarium, giving you some entertainment to go along with all of your shopping fun. You’ll also find 22 movie theaters, more than 100 restaurants, and a luxury hotel; you can take an entire vacation and spend all of it in this mall.
Largest Tree-Borne Fruit
The largest tree-borne fruit in the world is the jackfruit. Its grown in parts of Southeastern Asia and is the national fruit of Bangladesh. Jackfruit is an excellent source of fiber and isn’t much of an attraction in the area but can be a wonderfully sweet treat.
Largest Ocean Reef
It shouldn’t be surprising that the Great Barrier Reef is the largest ocean reef in the world. It’s situated in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia. This reef supports more than 1,500 species of fish, turtles, dolphins, whales, porpoises, and crocodiles. The reef area covers nearly 133,000 square miles and is made up of more than 2,900 individual reefs.
World’s Largest Island
Greenland is the world’s largest island and the least densely populated country in the world. The country is mostly covered in ice, but somehow received its name from the early settlers. Strangely, Iceland is mostly green, maybe the two should trade names.
The world’s largest ball of twine is something to behold as it continues to grow. Will you make a trip to Kansas to see this massive ball in person? Would you be willing to add to its mass?
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