The Journey to Promote the National Symbols in the World No.21: Denmark- the Little Mermaid of Copenhagen
( Vietkings) The most famous mermaid statue of them all is the statue of The Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, sitting on a rock at Langelinie in the harbor of Copenhagen, Denmark. The statue had its 100 year anniversary on August 23 2013, with celebrations in Copenhagen and around the world.
source: mermaidsofearth.com
The mermaid statue was created in bronze by Edvard Erikssen, and was unveiled in August of 1913.
Eriksen was commissioned in January 1909 by Carl Jacobsen of Carlsberg Breweries to create the statue. Carl was fascinated by a ballet at the Copenhagen Royal Theatre based on the fairy tale about the mermaid, and asked the star of the ballet, Ellen Price de Plane, to model for the statue. Price declined modeling in the nude for the sculpture, and Eriksen enlisted his wife Eline Eriksen (who modeled for several other of his works) to model for the mermaid statue. A popular story has it that Price modeled for the face and Eline Eriksen for the body, but in actual fact Eline Eriksen was the model for the entire sculpture. This is easily seen when comparing the statue’s face with photos of Eline Eriksen, and the faces of Eriksen’s other statues.
This mermaid statue is one of the top tourist attractions in Copenhagen, and has become an icon and a symbol of both Copenhagen and Denmark. While the story by Hans Christian Andersen was more than enough to make this mermaid statue known around the world, the Disney movies have only added to the fame and the appeal of this statue.
There are copies of the statue – with some differences – in a number of locations around the world, which in some cases are authorized by Eriksen’s heirs, and in other cases have been allowed to remain without specific authorization from the heirs.
The mermaid statue on display in Copenhagen is the actual original, but other copies and sizes were made as well – which is a good thing, as the original has been vandalized several times, and then lovingly restored using the copies. Several sizes are available for purchase at the official website for this most famous of all mermaid statues.
While the statue is often seen as being smaller than expected, it is actually larger than it appears, about 25% larger than lifesize. The spectacular location and the grand features of ocean, harbor and shoreline around the statue contribute to make it look small in comparison. The original statue here is the only true copy of the statue in this size – according to sculptor Edvard Eriksen’s will, only smaller copies may be produced, with Copenhagen Harbor having the only full-size statue.
Source: mermaidsofearth.com
VIETNAM BOOK OF RECORDS - VIETKINGS
(Vietkings) While thousands of climbers have successfully scaled Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth, only two people have descended to the planet’s deepest point, the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench.
(Vietkings) The Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic Chapel, located beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints in Sedlec, a suburb of Kutna Hora in the Czech Republic.
(Vietkings) Born when Gladstone was Prime Minister, Thomas the tortoise has survived everything since 1882, even Nazi bombs.
(Vietkings) Renowned for its beauty, the 18th-century Havana Cathedral (Catedral de la Habana) has been called "music cast into stone."
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(Vietkings) The city of Cherrapunji is 1,290 meters above sea level and much of the torrential rains run off the mountains into the valley below, which receives an annual rainfall of 1,270 centimeters. Once it rained 2,290 centimeters in one season!
(Vietkings) The Teatro de Cristóbal Colón (The Chistopher Columbus Theatre), also known as the "Teatro Colón", is located in Bogota, Colombia and it is the nation's National Theatre.
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(Vietkings) Atacama Desert is the driest spot on earth with an average of less than .004 inches/.01cm of rain per year.
(Vietkings) Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of China and its long and vivid history, the Great Wall of China actually consists of numerous walls and fortifications, many running parallel to each other.
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(Vietking) Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, containing the geographic South Pole.
(Vietkings) A rare, parasitic, rootless and leafless plant, Rafflesia arnoldii has the largest known flower in the world.
(Vietkings) Easter Island is known by the local people as Rapa Nui. In Spanish the island is called Isla de Pascua.
( Vietkings )The Black Marlin is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific oceans and an extraordinary trophy for any angler.
(Vietkings) The CN Tower is a 553.33 m-high (1,815.4 ft) concrete communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
(Vietkings) Angkor Wat was once customary to maintain a state temple at the heart of the capital city of Khmer Empire
(Vietkings) The Peregrine’s magnificent speed and power also made it the favorite bird for falconers in the Middle Ages.
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