Chances are you are aware of time. You set an alarm clock to help you get up in time. You punch a time clock to start your day at work and then again when you leave at the end of the work day. Time is important, there’s no denying it. But do you know about the ten most famous worldwide clocks? Keep reading to learn more.
1. Big Ben (London, England)
One of the most iconic clocks ever, Big Ben is located in Elizabeth Tower, part of London’s Houses of Parliament. The name is that of the bell housed in the clock tower, weighing over 13 tons. Each of the clocks four faces is seven meters in diameter and each dial contains 312 pieces of glass. The clock was built in 1844, and the bell was installed in May 1859.
2. Abraj Al-Bait Tower (Mecca, Saudi Arabia)
Located in the Mecca Royal Hotel, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia’s government owned complex, the Abraj Al-Bait Towers’ clock tower is the tallest in the world, and has the world’s largest clock face, which is visible from 25 kilometers (16 miles) away. The clock faces are lit by two million LED lights.
3. Prague Astronomical (Prague, Czech Republic)
Located on the Old Town Square of Prague, the Astronomical Clock regularly draws a crowd. The over 600-year-old clock has an animated display at the top of each hour.
4. Floral Clock (Niagara Park, Canada)
The Floral Clock is planted and maintained by the horticulture staff of Niagara Parks and Ontario Hydro is tasked with keeping the mechanism working. The flowers making up the face total up to 16,000 and are changed twice every year.
5. Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel (Yokohoma, Japan)
The Ferris wheel that houses the Cosmo Clock stands 369 feet (112.5 meters) tall, and is one of the largest in Japan. From it, Tokyo Bay and the entire region are visible on a clear day. The Cosmo Clock is the largest digital clock in the world.
6. Kremlin’s Spasskaya Tower (Moscow, Russia)
Built in 1491, the Spasskaya (or Saviour’s Tower) overlooks the Red Square and is considered the ceremonial entrance to the Kremlin. No one, not even the Tsar, is allowed to enter the gates of the tower on horseback or without removing his hat. The chimes for which it is also famous were added in 1707.
7. Cevahir Shopping Center (Istanbul, Turkey)
The six-story Cevahir Shopping Centre in Turkey includes, in its glass roof, the second biggest clock in the world (second only to the Abraj Al-Bait), sporting 10-foot (3-meter) high numerals.
8. Rathaus-Glockenspiel (Munich, Germany)
Housing 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures, the Rathaus-Glockenspiel clock was built in 1908. It animates two 16th-century stories each day at 11am year-round (and 12pm and 5pm in the summer), taking about 12-15 minutes to tell both stories.
9. Strasbourg Cathedral (Strasbourg, France)
The clock in the Cathedrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg, Alsace, France is the third to grace the location. The current clock is an exact replica of the original, which was built in the 14th century. The second, from the 16th century, was replaced in 1843 with the current clock. It includes a perpetual calendar, as well as planetary information, and a display of Christ and the Apostles, 18 inches tall each, that march at 1230pm daily, accompanied by a life-size cock crowing three times.
10. Times Square (New York, New York, United States)
Located in Midtown Manhattan, New York, Times Square is a major intersection and the location of the yearly New Year’s celebration. The Chevrolet Clock is an analog clock that is displayed on a digital screen.
