The Tallest Woman In Recorded History

Trijntje Cornelisdochter Keever (April 10 or 16, 1616 – July 22, 1633), nicknamed De Groote Meid (in English, The Big Girl), is the tallest female person in recorded history, standing 9 Amsterdam feet or 2.54 metres (8 ft 4 in) tall at the time of her death at age seventeen.

Trijntje Keever was the daughter of Cornelis Keever and Anna Pouwels. Cornelis was a Dutch skipper and Anna was his maid; he married her on May 24, 1605. Trijntje was born on April 10 or 16, 1616 in Edam.

Trijntje’s parents took her to carnivals to earn some money by letting people see her. Trijntje first received public attention when she was nine years old and had reached the height of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). A royal company consisting of the Bohemian king Frederick V, Elector Palatine, his wife Elizabeth of Bohemia and the princess Amalia van Solms-Braunfels, living in The Hague at the time, visited her, curious about the “nine-year-old girl taller than every man in Europe.”

Trijntje died of cancer at the age of 17 in Ter Veen (Veere?). She was buried on July 7, 1633 in Edam, her town of birth. Her epitaph is said to have read, “Trijntje Crelis groote meidt oudt 17 jaer”, or, in English: “Trijntje Crelis, big girl, 17 years of age”. In the townhall of Edam is a lifesize painting by an unknown artist portraying Trijntje in civilian clothes with a belt holding at her right a keyring and at her left a pincushion and a sheath with a knife, fork, and spoon. Her original shoes are also on display. If there were a size for the shoes, they would be European size 54 (36 cm or 14 in long).

Source: wikipedia.org

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The Tallest Man In Recorded History

Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 – July 15, 1940) was a man who is the tallest person in history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. Wadlow is sometimes known as the Alton Giant or Giant of Illinois because of his upbringing in Alton, Illinois.

Wadlow reached 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) in height and weighed 222 kg (490 lb) at his death at age 22. His great size and his continued growth in adulthood was due to hypertrophy of his pituitary gland which results in an abnormally high level of human growth hormone. He showed no indication of an end to his growth even at the time of his death.


Later Years

Wadlow's size began to take its toll: he required leg braces to walk, and had little feeling in his legs and feet. Despite these encounters, Wadlow was never confined to a wheelchair. On June 27, 1940 (eighteen days before his death), he was measured at 8 ft 11.1 in (2.72 m) by doctors C. M. Charles and Cyril MacBryde of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.


Wadlow was an American celebrity; he was well-known due to his 1936 U.S. tour with the Ringling Brothers Circus and his 1938 promotional tour with the INTERCO. He continued participating in tours and public appearances.

Death
 
On July 4, 1940, while making a professional appearance at the National Forest Festival, a faulty brace irritated his ankle, causing a blister and subsequent infection. Doctors treated him with a blood transfusion and emergency surgery, but his condition worsened and on July 15, 1940, he died in his sleep. He was 22.

An estimated 40,000 people attended Wadlow's funeral on July 19. He was buried in a half-ton coffin that required twelve pallbearers to carry, which was interred within a vault of solid concrete. It was believed that Wadlow's family were concerned for the sanctity of his body after his death, and went to these lengths of security to ensure it would never be disturbed or stolen.

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The Tallest Living Woman

Yao Defen (Chinese: 姚德芬; pinyin: Yáo Défēn) of China, (born 15 July 1972) is claimed to be the tallest woman in the world (2.33 m; 7 ft 8 in). The Guinness Book of World Records said American Sandy Allen was the world's tallest woman until Allen's death on August 13, 2008, but dispute Defen's claim. She weighs 200 kg (440 lbs) and has size 26 (UK) / 78 (EU) feet. Her gigantism is due to a tumor in her pituitary gland.


Early life

Yao Defen was born to poor farmers in the town of Liuan in the Anhui province of Shucheng County. At birth she weighed 6.16 pounds. At age 3 she was eating more than three times the amount of food that other three-year-olds were eating. When she was 11 years old she was about 6 foot 2 inches tall. She was 6 foot 8 inches tall by the age of 15.

The story of this "woman giant" began to spread rapidly after she went to see a doctor at age 15 for an illness. After that, many companies attempted to train her to be a sports star. The plans were abandoned, however, because Defen was too weak. Because she is illiterate, since 1992 Yao Defen has been forced to earn a living by traveling with her father and performing.

Yao Defen's giant stature was caused by a large tumor in the pituitary gland of her brain, which was releasing too much growth hormone and caused excessive growth in her bones. Six years ago, a hospital in Guangzhou Province removed the tumor, and she stopped growing.

The tumor returned and she was treated in Shanghai in 2007, but was sent home for 6 months with the hope that medication would reduce her tumor enough to allow surgery. The second surgery was never performed due to lack of funds.

In 2009 TLC devoted a whole night show to her. She suffered from a fall in her home and had internal bleeding of the brain. She recovered and felt some happiness after a visit from the world's tallest man, also living in China.


Medical help

A British television programme filmed a documentary on her and helped raise money so she could get proper medical care. They did measure her and according to the documentary she's 7ft 8in tall. Two leading doctors in acromegaly agreed to help Yao. She was taken to a nearby city hospital, where imaging procedures revealed that a small portion of her tumor, removed many years before, still remained, causing continuing problems, including weakening vision as it pressed against her optic nerve. She returned home, then was admitted for a month under observation in the larger Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, and given dietary supplements. In that hospital, her growth hormone was greatly slowed down, although it is still a problem. Upon her return home to her mother and brother, she was able to walk with crutches, unassisted by others, and was given a six-month supply of medicines and supplements in hopes of improving her condition enough to undergo surgery.


Acromegaly

Yao currently suffers from hypertension, heart disease, poor nutrition, and osteoporosis. Acromegaly often results from a tumor within the pituitary gland that causes excess growth hormone secretion. As a result, the body's features become enlarged. It can also delay the onset of puberty as is the case with Yao. She has no secondary sex characteristics. Potential complications without necessary surgery include blindness and eventually premature death.

She lives near her mother (who is only 4 ft 8 inches tall) in a small village in rural China.

Source: wikipedia.org

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The Tallest Living Man

PODOLYANTSY, Ukraine - At 8 feet 5 inches (2.57m), ukrainian Leonid Stadnyk sets the world record for the Tallest Man, overshadowing a Chinese man who previously held the title.



President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, left, shaking hands with Leonid Stadnyk, 36, who is believed to be the world's tallest man at 2.57 meters, or 8 feet, 5.5 inches. (AP Photo/Mykhailo Markiv, File)



Stadnik's growth spurt started at age 14 after a brain operation
apparently stimulated his pituitary gland, which produces the human
growth hormone.



He lives with his mother, Halyna, in northwestern Ukraine, taking care of the family's house and garden.

Olena Stadnyk looks on as her son Leonid Stadnyk swings on a fence near their house in Podolyantsi. (Reuters: Gleb Garanich)







Born
to parents who were 1.73m (5ft 8in) and 1.52m (5ft) tall in a tiny
village 209km (130 miles) west of the capital, Kiev, Mr Stadnyk was not
unusually large as a young boy.

Mr Stadnyk has claimed to be the world's tallest man before, but his record was not verified because he repeatedly refused to be measured by the Guinness Book of Records.



By the time he had qualified as a vet and begun working at a clinic an
hour away, Mr Stadnyk measured 2.03m (6ft 8in). He soon outgrew his bike
and began taking the bus.



He later became too large for the bus and had to use the family's horse-drawn cart.




Leonid
Stadnyk harnesses his horse in the village of Podoliantsy, Ukraine's
northwestern Zhytomyr region, 212 kilometers (131.74 miles) west of the
capital Kiev.(Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo)



Since then he has made numerous online friends, including several in the
United States, Australia and Russia. Stadnik hopes to learn English so
he can communicate better with his Anglophone contacts; currently, he
relies on computer translations, which he says are often inadequate.



Mr Stadnyk had to give up his job six years ago, after his feet were
frostbitten because he could not afford proper shoes for his size 64
feet.



Leonid Stadnyk, a 37-year-old former veterinarian, is 8 inches taller
(20 centimetres) than the former titleholder, China's Bao Xishun, who
measured 7 feet 9 inches.



Since his recognition by Ukrainian record keepers four years ago, and by
Guinness in 2007, people from all over Ukraine and the world have
shipped him outsized clothing, provided his home with running water and
recently presented him with a giant bicycle.

Ukrainian
veterinarian, Leonid Stadnyk, 2.57 m (8 feet 5 inches) tall, the
world's tallest living man, rides a bicycle specially made for him, in
the village of Podoliantsy, Ukraine's northwestern Zhytomyr region, 212
km west of the capital Kiev on March 23, 2008. Stadnik's growth spurt
started at age 14 after a brain operation apparently stimulated his
pituitary gland. Stadnyk, 37, is still growing up. (AP)



"Thanks to good people I have shoes and clothes," said the 37-year-old
former veterinarian, who still lives with his 66-year-old mother.



...He's got a new car now, courtesy of Ukrainian President Viktor
Yushchenko. He went to Kiev this week to take charge of the super-size
van.



Stadnyk at first struggled to squeeze into the passenger's seat, his knees nearly reaching his face.



Once in, Mr Yushchenko briefly drove the beaming Stadnyk around. Local authorities have promised to supply fuel.

Ukrainian president presented Leonid Stadnyk with a car which was
specially adapted for him by Ukrainian corporation Autozaz-Daewoo.



"In this car I will be able to drive more and to travel more, as I very much enjoy travelling ," Stadnyk told reporters.

To
keep his height and weight in check, a Russian engineer has developed a
body-building machine, which suits tall people. The Russian engineer,
Aleksander Barshulyak, said, "the aim of this machine is to train leg
muscles and the strength of the joints." Stadnyk said, "I have problems
with my weight and my legs tire often. I think this is normal for me,
but I am working on this. I train myself. And this body-building machine
that was presented to me will help me fight my aches."

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko's personal tailor has made Stadnyk two tracksuits .



Local authorities have also promised to supply gas to Stadnik's village,
200 km west of the capital, Kiev. On Sunday, a local organisation for
the disabled gave Stadnyk a giant bike so he can pedal to the grocery
store, which is in a nearby village. The group also presented Stadnik
with a fitness machine.



"I have always dreamt that my life and the life of my loved ones...
would become more comfortable," Stadnyk said. "My dream is coming true."




His neighbours joke that they may also benefit from Stadnyk's success.
"Of course we are proud of him — we may have gas here soon thanks to
him," said Nila Kravchuk, 75.

Since he quit his job, Stadnik has concentrated on managing the family
garden and taking care of his three cows, one horse and assorted pigs
and chickens. He lives with his mother Halyna, 66, and his sister
Larysa, 42.



Stadnyk says his dream now is finding a soul mate, just like the former
titleholder, China's Bao Xishun, who was married in 2007. "I think the
future holds that for me," he said.



The tallest man in recorded history was Illinois native Robert Pershing Wadlow, who was 8 feet 11 inches and died in 1940 at the age of 22.



Source: worldrecordsacademy.org





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Sultan Kosen

Sultan Kosen
is a Turkish man who is the current record holder of the tallest living
man in the world as recognised by Guinness World Records.



 Records



Kosen's height was recorded at 2.47 m (8 ft 1.2 in) in his home
country by Guinness World Records, at August 25, 2009, overtaking former
world record holder Bao Xishun who stands 2.36 m (7 ft 8.9 in) tall.
Kosen is also the current Guinness World Record holder of 'largest
hands', and 'largest feet', measuring 27.5 cm and 36.5 cm respectively.



 Personal life



Born and raised near Mardin, Turkey, Kosen's growth as a child was
normal until the age of ten when he was diagnosed with pituitary
gigantism after doctors discovered a tumor behind his eyes. The tumor
had put excess pressure on his pituitary gland and caused his extreme
growth. He underwent a series of surgeries and his growth continued
until the tumour was removed in 2008. His condition has caused other
medical problems. Kosen suffers stress on his knees that necessitates
the use of walking canes for most activities.



Kosen
lives with his parents, three brothers and sister, who are all normal
sized. He was unable to complete his schooling because of his height and
works part-time as a farmer. Despite his height he claims to enjoy a
normal lifestyle and enjoys playing computer games with his friends. He
describes the advantages of being tall as seeing from great distance,
being able to help out his family with domestic jobs such as changing
light bulbs and hanging curtains. He lists disadvantages as not being
able to find clothes or shoes that fit or finding it extremely hard to
fit into a regular size car.



When asked what his hopes are after being officially given the title he
said: "To travel and see the world and have a car that accommodates my
size! My biggest dream though, is to get married and have children - I'm
looking for love.

 

Source: wikipedia.org, contactmusic.com

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The World’s Tallest Model

At 2 meters and 5 centimeters (6 ft 7 in), Eve may be an incredibly tall, but she’s also incredibly hot. Yup, I do have a thing for “taller than thou” babes.

Eve, a successful American model and the tallest model in the world will grace the cover of Zoo Weekly, an Australian men’s magazine, with her extraordinary physique. This the first time a woman of her size appears on the front of such a publication and to better show off her tallness, she posed beside a 1.62 meters-tall Australian model.

Zoo Weekly editor Paul Merrill said they had her bikini custom made, but it was worth it. Bro, I totally agree, great job! Oh, and who said good things come in small packages was so wrong!

Source: damncoolpics.blogspot.com

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The World’s Tallest Cat - Savannah Cat

The Savannah cat, Scarlett’s Magic is the new Guinness record holder for the world’s tallest cats. She is 18 months old and its length is about 17.1 inches from shoulder to toe.



The adorable pet is also awaiting the result of a second nomination for
the world’s longest cat, from the tip of the nose to the end of the
tail, but for now she and her owner, Kim Droper, are more than happy
with the Guinness World Record for the Tallest Cat.



Miss Droper describes her cat as an obedient and smart one. She also
said that the Savannahs are the most beautiful companion for the family.
She adds that they are active cats and like to play with family
members. She owns the Californian-based Savannah Cat Shoppe, with her
husband Lee. This Savannah breed is popular in California because of
their beautiful appearances and their great learning abilities.

 

Source: damncoolpics.blogspot.com

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Millau Viaduct - World's Tallest Vehicular Bridge

Millau Viaduct - World's Tallest Vehicular Bridge
The Millau Viaduct (French: le Viaduc de Millau, Occitan: lo Viaducte de Milhau) is an enormous cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France.

Designed by the structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one mast's summit at 343 metres (1,125 ft) — slightly taller than the Eiffel Tower and only 37 m (121 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building.

The viaduct is part of the A75-A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Montpellier. Construction cost was around €400 million.

It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004, inaugurated the day after and opened to traffic two days later.

The bridge won the 2006 IABSE Outstanding Structure Award.

The bridge’s construction broke three world records:

• The highest pylons in the world: pylons P2 and P3, 244.96 metres (803 ft 8 in) and 221.05 metres (725 ft 3 in) in height respectively, broke the French record previously held by the Tulle and Verrières Viaducts (141 m/460 ft), and the world record previously held by the Kochertal Viaduct (Germany), which is 181 metres (590 ft) at its highest;
• The highest bridge tower in the world: the mast atop pylon P2 peaks at 343 metres (1,130 ft).
• The highest road bridge deck in the world, 270 m (890 ft) above the Tarn River at its highest point. It is nearly twice as tall as the previous tallest vehicular bridge in Europe, the Europabrücke in Austria. It is slightly higher than the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia in the United States, which is 267 m (880 ft) above the New River. Only the bridge deck of the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, United States (mainly a pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River, occasionally also used by motor vehicles) is higher with 321 m (1,050 ft), and is considered the highest bridge in the world.

The Millau Viaduct consists of an eight-span steel roadway supported by seven concrete pylons. The roadway weighs 36,000 tonnes and is 2,460 m (8,100 ft) long, measuring 32 m (100 ft) wide by 4.2 m (14 ft) deep, making it the world's longest cable-stayed deck. The six central spans each measure 342 m (1,120 ft) with the two outer spans measuring 204 m (670 ft). The roadway has a slope of 3% descending from south to north, and curves in a plane section with a 20 km (12 mi) radius to give drivers better visibility. The pylons range in height from 77 m (250 ft) to 246 m (810 ft), and taper in their longitudinal section from 24.5 m (80 ft) at the base to 11 m (36 ft) at the deck. Each pylon is composed of 16 framework sections, each weighing 2,230 tons. These sections were assembled on site from pieces of 60 tons, 4 m (13 ft) wide and 17 m (56 ft) long, made in factories in Lauterbourg and Fos-sur-Mer by Eiffage. The pylons each support 87 m (290 ft) tall masts.

The enormous pylons were built first, together with intermediate temporary pylons which were in themselves a massive record-breaking construction project.

Remarkably, the entire length of deck surface (that is to say, the bridge itself, the actual kilometers of roadway) was slid out, into the valley, across the pylons from both sides.

This feat was achieved using hydraulic rams that moved the deck about 600 mm every 4 minutes, over the course of many days.

While the kilometers of roadway was being slid-out through space, it was supported by both the final pylons and the temporary pylons.

Only after the roadway was completely slid-out in to the final position, were the masts erected on top of the deck (that is to say, over the pylons). To be clear, the masts on top are not continuing elements of the pylons underneath, although they appear to be. The masts are separate constructions which were built on land, wheeled out to position only after the pylons and roadway were complete, raised (with difficulty), and emplaced.

The construction of the massive cable-stay system between the masts and deck then followed.

Finally, the massive temporary pylons in the valley were removed.

Construction began on 10 October 2001 and was intended to take three years, but weather conditions put work on the bridge behind schedule. A revised schedule aimed for the bridge to be opened in January 2005. The viaduct was inaugurated by President Chirac on 14 December 2004 to open for traffic on 16 December, several weeks ahead of the revised schedule.

The construction of the bridge was depicted in an episode of the National Geographic Channel MegaStructures series, as well as Discovery Channel's Extreme Engineering, both of which included time-lapse footage of the ultimate astonishing feat of sliding the roadway out over the valley, on to the plyons, to create the bridge.

Source: wikipedia.org, yawoot.com

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