Angel of the North Sinks into River Tyne

The Angel of the North - designed by Antony Gormley. The sculpture was erected in February 1998 on a landmark site overlooking the A1 motorway near Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, England.

It is the largest sculpture in Britain and is believed to be the largest angel sculpture in the world. It will definitely be one of the most viewed pieces of art in the world - seen by more than one person every second, 90,000 every day or 33 million every year.

Its 54 metre (175 foot) wingspan is bigger than a Boeing 757 or 767 jet and almost the same as a Jumbo jet. It is 20 metres (65 feet) high - the height of a five story building or four double decker buses. It weighs 200 tonnes - the body 100 tonnes and the wings 50 tonnes each.

There is enough steel in it to make 16 double decker buses or four Chieftan tanks. It will last more than 100 years, and is able to withstand winds of more than 100 miles per hour.

Below the sculpture, massive concrete piles 20 metres deep anchor it to the solid rock beneath. It is made of weather resistant Cor-ten steel, containing a small amount of copper, which forms a patina on the surface that mellows with age.

I had a bit of fun with this in Photoshop, adding the water. This abstract composition depicts it sinking into the world famous River Tyne.