To see the world’s biggest bonfire, you’ll have to visit Alesund, Norway, where wood pallets are stacked over 130 feet high on an artificial island. The occasion is Sankthans — or “Midsummer” — an annual festival in commemoration of John the Baptist’s birth. The day is celebrated on June 24th in Scandinavian countries and other parts of Europe. In Alesund, the traditional bonfire — known as Slinningsbålet — is taken to the extreme. In 2010, a record was set for the tallest bonfire at 132.71 feet. The base of the structure is approximately 65½ feet. On average, 30-40 people take part in the build, and to light the structure someone must climb to the top to ignite it. If the fire doesn’t burn from the top to bottom, things could go badly.
