Angel of the North

sculpture · engineering · landmark

Enormous size. The Angel of the North is 20 metres tall with wings stretching 54 metres across, about as wide as five school buses parked end to end.

Made from the artist. The sculpture is based on artist Antony Gormley's own body, so it's like a giant cast of a real person.

Rusty on purpose. The sculpture is made of special weathering steel that rusts and turns orange, protecting the metal underneath from further damage.

Wind-proof design. Vertical ribs on the body and wings act like a skeleton to catch wind and push it down to the foundations, letting the Angel stand strong even in 100 miles per hour winds.

Seen by millions. About 33 million people see the Angel each year because it stands near busy roads and a major train line, making it one of the world's most viewed artworks.