Everybody is scared of something, but some fears are more well-known than others. And while we wouldn’t think twice about somebody being afraid of something as small as a spider, many people would find a fear of large objects strange. However, this is a very real fear called “megalophobia”, and more people have it than you may think. It includes any large thing, whether natural or manmade. Keep reading to discover some of the most imposing gigantic things for someone with megalophobia.
Alaska Moose
Moose are imposing animals, but be thankful you’ve never encountered the Alaska moose! It’s the largest type of moose, measuring approximately six feet tall at the shoulder, though there are records of some standing at over seven feet! They can also weigh up to 1,600 lbs, which gives them their gigantic bulk, and their long antlers make them seem even bigger. Like other moose, they’re not usually aggressive, but they’re still utterly terrifying.
People with megalophobia also have a fear of very large animals, like whales and elephants, so the Alaska moose is one they wouldn’t want to meet out in the wild.
Iceberg, Greenland
Icebergs are amazing feats of nature, and some of them are bigger than we could possibly imagine. That’s the case with this iceberg photographed in Greenland. It’s so gigantic that it completely eclipses the house it is passing, appearing as more of a mountain than something that could float. Glaciers can be as large as 75 meters tall, so this isn’t unusual, though still magnificent. It’s hard to believe that snowfall can result in something like this.
Like cliffs and mountains, this massive iceberg would be a definite “nope” for a person with megalophobia. Its height and breadth are all we can notice about it, especially with a house for size reference.
Kelvin-Helmholtz Clouds
Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds are a very cool phenomenon that make the sky seem even bigger than it already is. They’re caused by a fluid instability that makes clouds take the shape of enormous waves crashing down onto the shore. And though Kelvin-Helmholtz clouds are rare and brief when they do occur, they can still be utterly terrifying to the people beneath them. Seeing clouds take such an unsettling shape reminds us of just how small we really are.
Regular clouds can be intimidating for people with megalophobia when they take in the full size of them, so seeing clouds seemingly coming towards them like waves would be met with a very firm “nope”.
Saltwater Crocodile
Crocodiles are one creature that we’d happily never encounter in the wild, but especially not the saltwater crocodile! It’s the largest living species of crocodile, and while it may be smaller than its prehistoric ancestors, it’s still terrifying to behold. An adult saltwater crocodile can grow as long as 14 feet 9 inches, and weigh up to 1,698 lbs. They’re also known to be territorial animals, so they’d certainly show aggression to humans under the right circumstances.
Even people without megalophobia would be terror-stricken at the sight of this animal, but its size is the first thing that would cause those with a phobia to turn tail and run.
The Kelpies, Scotland
The Kelpies are an architectural wonder and an example of how innovative human creativity can be. They’re a pair of steel horse heads located between two Scottish towns, modeled after mythological shape-shifting water spirits that took the forms of horses. They overlook a canal basin, making it appear more like a puddle. They’re both 30 meters tall and weigh 300 tonnes each! Through the mist, they truly look like mythological spirits or omens, drawing attention from miles away.
A person with megalophobia would undoubtedly have a reaction to something so large looming over them like that. As impressive as the Kelpies are, they’re obtrusive to people with a phobia of gigantic things.
Harpy Eagle
The harpy eagle is another of the largest species of eagle, with a wingspan of up to two meters and a body as long as 40 inches. Their size is intimidating enough, but they’re also strong enough to break bones with their grip alone. Luckily, harpy eagles aren’t usually aggressive towards humans, but they can still be frightening to look at. After all, they’re far bigger than the birds that most people are accustomed to.
Like other big birds, the harpy eagle is a definite “nope” for people with megalophobia, particularly those who already associate bad memories with large animals. Pigeons and sparrows are far more welcome!
Togakushi Shrine, Nagano Prefecture, Japan
Nagano Prefecture, a prefecture in Japan, has several interesting locations to visit. However, one of the most unbelievable is the Togakushi Shrine, which sits at the base of Mount Togakushi. To reach it, visitors must first trek through a forested area lined with insanely tall cedar trees that were planted back in the 17th century. They’ve grown a lot since then, with some estimated to stand at over 33 meters tall!
When trees appear more like skyscrapers than plants, it makes sense that they’d unnerve or even scare a person with megalophobia. These Japanese cedar trees are truly one of a kind.
Hallgrímskirkja Church, Iceland
Iceland has numerous gorgeous churches, but Hallgrímskirkja is on this list for one reason: its tremendous size. At 74.5 meters tall, it’s actually the tallest church in Iceland and an incredible example of expressionist architecture. It’s built like a tower, with sloping hexagonal columns that rise to its magnificent steeple. The design was based on Iceland’s famous basalt columns, which explains why it’s so massive and uniquely shaped.
When it’s misty, like in this photo, you can’t even see the top of the church, which gives it a very eerie appearance. For people with a phobia of large objects, standing in front of Hallgrímskirkja would be very unnerving.
Thridrangaviti Lighthouse, Iceland
Another stunning feat of Icelandic architecture is the Thridrangaviti lighthouse, an active lighthouse located 4.5 miles out at sea. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, it’s also at the top of a 36.5-meter high rock stack, surrounded by otherwise empty open waters. It has a helicopter pad for people to access it, but it remains the most isolated lighthouse in the world. The building itself may be small, but everything else about this landmark is huge.
Thridrangaviti’s height coupled with its overseas location is enough to set anybody on edge. People with megalophobia would doubtless turn tail if they were to travel past it and behold its full massive glory.
Flood Tunnels, Tokyo
Japan is subjected to heavy rainfall during monsoon season every year, but its capital, Tokyo, is actually protected by an unseen network of intricate flood tunnels. The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, more shortly known as the “G-Cans”, is the largest underground flood diversion facility in the world. Its silos are 213-feet high and connected by four miles of tunnels. A full walk-through of the tunnels would take several hours, with plenty to explore.
As you can see, the people in this photo look absolutely miniscule compared to the G-Cans. Being down there would likely cause a person with megalophobia to become distressed, especially if they imagine those huge tunnels filled with floodwater.
White-Bellied Sea Eagle
Plenty of people have a phobia of birds, but those with a phobia of very large things would be equally scared of the white-bellied sea eagle. Its size is what makes it stand out from other eagles, so you’d definitely take notice of it! This bird can be up to 35 inches long and have a wingspan as wide as 2.2 meters. The white-bellied sea eagle is a bird of prey, and while it may not eat humans, it can certainly intimidate them.
This bird is smaller than a human, but people with megalophobia would still try to avoid encountering it since it is so much larger than the everyday birds they’re used to seeing.
Baobab Trees
Trees continuously amaze us with how tall they can become, and that includes baobab trees. Though some are on the shorter side at only 20 feet tall, others grow taller than 80 feet. The genus Adansonia causes the trees to have very swollen trunks and sparser branches and leaves, so baobabs are also known as “upside-down trees”. This makes them seem immensely wide, as well as tall, and they look very different from other types of trees that we see more often.
Being surrounded by massive baobab trees would be an otherworldly experience for most people. However, those with megalophobia would likely feel uneasy and trapped, even in an outdoor environment.
Bagger 293
Vehicles nowadays are getting bigger and bigger, but none so much as Bagger 293, the world’s largest land vehicle. It was built by TAKRAF in 1995, measuring 96 meters tall and 225 meters long. Currently, it holds the Guinness World Record for the tallest terrestrial vehicle, alongside the 1978 Bagger 288. It’s a bucket-wheel excavator used for mining around 40 million tons of lignite each year in Hambach, Germany. There are hardly any vehicles capable of such a feat.
Bagger 293’s wheels alone are enough to dwarf a person, let alone the rest of it, so it’s no wonder this vehicle made it onto this list. Something so huge and potentially destructive would naturally frighten someone with megalophobia.
Eagle Claws
If a large species of eagle gives you feelings of dread, seeing its claws up close would only exacerbate those feelings. Eagles have large, sharp claws to make it easier for them to grip, pin, and tear open prey. Though humans are far from their intended meals, it’s still a bit intimidating to see how deadly their talons could be for the wrong person. A large eagle claw could comfortably grab a human fist; that’s how big they are.
Though megalophobia typically refers to things as gigantic as skyscrapers or mountains, oversized versions of smaller things, like eagle claws, may still trigger those feelings and cause a negative reaction.
African Renaissance Monument, Senegal
Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, so it has almost endless remarkable sites to visit. One of the most impressive has got to be the African Renaissance Monument in Senegal, which is a whopping 52 meters tall! It depicts a man, woman, and child climbing out of a volcano to freedom, symbolizing African strength and liberation. To reach this gigantic statue, you must first climb almost 200 stairs. Even at the top, it still looks massive.
Giant monuments may seem like a strange phobia, but it’s very real for some people, and the African Renaissance Monument is definitely in that category. It’s majestic, but also overwhelmingly big.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has countless skyscrapers, but the Makkah Royal Clock Tower is the tallest at 601 meters. It’s one of seven skyscraper hotels in Mecca, all designed to look like classic clock towers. Not only is the Royal Clock Tower the tallest building in Saudi Arabia, but it’s also the fourth-tallest building in the world! It overlooks the entire Mecca Province, with 120 floors. There is an observation deck for those brave enough to go all the way to the top.
Buildings which are only a fraction of the size of the Makkah Royal Clock Tower can terrify people with megalophobia, so we’ve got no doubt that this skyscraper would be a firm “nope” for them.
Gunnera Manicata
Have you ever heard of a leaf that can grow bigger than some humans? Gunnera manicata, or “giant rhubarb”, has some of the biggest leaves you’ll ever see. The plant grows between six and ten feet high, and up to 14 feet wide. It’s native to Brazil, so its enormous leaves are the result of growing in nutrient-rich soils with plenty of hydration. We expect many plants, like trees, hedges, and shrubs, to be bigger than us, but not individual leaves.
Gunnera manicata is actually illegal in many countries, so people with megalophobia may never come across it in real life. However, just knowing that these huge leaves exist can create an uneasy feeling.
Sky Cowboys, Los Angeles
There are many dangerous jobs out there, and while being a “sky cowboy” may sound fun, it’s not for the faint of heart. The Ironworkers Local 433 represents over 5,000 ironworkers in Los Angeles, and they spend their days working on the city’s high-rise buildings. LA has more than 800 buildings which are taller than 100 feet, and some are even over 400 feet. Sky cowboys often find themselves right at the top of them, like in this incredible photo.
Megalophobia isn’t synonymous with a phobia of heights, but seeing a city like LA look so small by comparison to a large building is certainly a trigger for someone with that fear.
Extinct Quetzalcoatlus
The quetzalcoatlus may look like a giant bird, but it was far more than that. This now-extinct genus was a flying reptile that lived during the Maastrichtian age. It is believed to be one of the largest flying animals ever discovered, with an estimated wingspan of up to 36 feet! Scientists also believe that it could have been 18-feet tall and able to fly as fast as 80 mph. It was likely an aggressive and dangerous creature.
People with megalophobia typically remove themselves from large objects that make them feel uncomfortable, but that wouldn’t be possible with this creature in pursuit. Luckily, the quetzalcoatlus is now extinct.
Colosso Dell’Appennino, Italy
The Colosso dell’Appennino, located in Tuscany, Italy, is truly ethereal, and it has to be seen to be believed. It depicts an elderly man stooping over a lake, surrounded by other mythological images from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. And, like the name suggests, it is colossal! It stands at an amazing 11 meters tall, drawing all attention away from the lake. It even stands taller than some of the nearby trees, perfectly depicting the majesty of the Apennine Mountains.
Despite its beauty, the Colosso dell’Appennino may unnerve people with megalophobia because it’s so big and also incredibly intricate, making it look quite lifelike. Sometimes, the finer details make the phobia more intense.
Floor-To-Ceiling Door
Floor-to-ceiling doors are a popular interior design feature, but this door is really something else! It appears to be the door of a religious building, and greatly resembles those in the replica Pantheon building in Nashville, Tennessee, which are over seven meters tall. These types of doors are designed to be huge to show how architecturally strong old buildings were when they were first built. The man in this photo is 5’11”, though he looks absolutely tiny by comparison!
Doors may not necessarily intimidate people with megalophobia, but they’re the entrances to equally-large buildings, which may trigger a negative reaction. To say the least, they’re formidable to look at.
Fanjingshan Temples, China
It’s hard to believe that this place is real, but you can visit it in Tongren, China. Fanjingshan is the highest peak in the Wuling Mountains, and it is considered a sacred peak. There are two Chinese Buddhist temples located on it, but it’s quite a trek to reach them. The entire mount is over 8,000 feet tall, extending up into the clouds. It takes approximately 9,000 steps to reach the top, with everything below becoming smaller and smaller.
This mountain may be a welcome challenge for an experienced climber, but we can’t imagine many people with megalophobia would want to climb it, especially seeing how tiny it makes the rest of the environment look.
The Faroe Islands, Kingdom of Denmark
The Faroe Islands are one of the most gorgeous, idyllic places in all of Scandinavia, and that’s a tough title to claim. However, when you stand on the Islands looking out at the horizon, it seems like such a small place in comparison. The Faroes consist of several volcanic islands, which means there are plenty of cliffs, mountains, and large bodies of water. From the sanctuary of those grass-covered houses, everything looks remarkably large.
The cliffs across the ocean, in particular, seem to loom over the Faroe Islands, making this a destination that many people with megalophobia would hesitate to visit, despite its beauty.
Saturn Compared to Earth
Saturn is the third-farthest planet from the sun, and is separated from Earth by Mars and Jupiter, so it can only be seen as a dot through a telescope. However, if it were as close to Earth as Earth’s own moon, it would far eclipse the planet, as this reimagining shows. Saturn has almost 10x the equatorial diameter of Earth, and far different conditions, so the two coming that close together would be disastrous.
Hopefully, this never happens, but if it did, the size of Saturn would be more than enough to trigger people’s megalophobia. It wouldn’t last long, though, because its gravitational pull would almost certainly destroy Earth.
Banff National Parkway, Alberta, Canada
Canada has some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world, but this one may be breathtaking in a bad way for anyone with a fear of large things. Banff National Parkway is located in the Alberta Rocky Mountains, with several massive cliff faces and high peaks. The highest peak within the park is Mount Forbes, which is 3,612 meters tall, though there are others on its border. They tower over roads, cars, and trees, as seen in this photo.
These vast expanses of rock and snow perfectly encapsulate how large Canada is. It’s enough to make anybody feel small, but is especially daunting to an individual with megalophobia.
The Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites are a vast and breathtaking mountain range located in northeastern Italy. They’re a dream for any ambitious mountain climber, but an absolute nightmare for a person with megalophobia. There are more than 2,000 mountains in the Dolomites, including 18 with peaks higher than 3,000 meters tall. In fact, the tallest is a whopping 3,343 meters! The Dolomites are one of the most impressive mountain ranges in the world.
Anyone with megalophobia would avoid the Dolomites for their sheer size and scale. Even at a distance, mountains can be terrifying and overwhelming for someone with a phobia of them.
Sorvagsvatn, Faroe Islands
Tucked away in the Faroe Islands is a tremendous lake that runs over the top of the ocean: Sorvagsvatn. It is both big and high, covering an overall area of 1.3 square miles. And as if that immense vastness wasn’t difficult enough, the lake is also at the top of a 32-meter high cliff! It doesn’t empty directly into the ocean, but is still huge and impressive enough to draw significant attention from anybody nearby.
Large bodies of water definitely fall into the megalophobia category, especially those located at the top of towering cliffs. Sorvagsvatn is a sight to behold, but would certainly terrify anybody with a fear of large things.
Perseid Meteor Shower, Stonehenge
Any monumental natural phenomenon can be enough to trigger megalophobia, including weather-related events. The Perseids are an annual meteor shower that occurs between July and August, lighting up the pre-dawn sky with streaks of light, debris, and shooting stars. In 2024, a photographer captured this incredible shot of the Perseid Meteor Shower passing Stonehenge, showcasing how truly otherworldly it is. It makes the sky appear endlessly high, and everything on the ground is tiny by comparison.
Stonehenge is also gigantic, with some of the stones standing taller than seven meters. Coupled with the immense meteor shower happening overhead, it’s enough to make anyone feel intimidated.
Eruption of Mount St. Helens
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted in an explosion like no other. Washington had been experiencing a series of earthquakes for two months before, but a 5.1 magnitude earthquake ended up triggering the cataclysmic eruption. The blast was so powerful that it shot gas, steam, and debris 80,000 feet up into the air. It also created a huge crater in the landscape and generated devastating volcanic mudslides that flowed down towards the river.
It was a highly destructive and terrifying event for all those who were there, and the pictures are enough to petrify anybody looking at them decades later, especially those with megalophobia.
Najac, France
Beyond its major cities, France has some stunning villages. Najac, located in the Aveyron department, is one of the most interesting to look at because of its incredible centerpiece: a 13th-century chateau on top of a hill. It overlooks the rest of the village at a 200-meter elevation, with robust architecture hailing from 1253. Visitors to Najac are invited to marvel at the old castle’s beauty, but its size is certainly one of the most impressive things about it.
People with megalophobia may not be affected by every large building they see, but something as looming and imposing as Najac’s castle is almost certain to trigger a negative reaction.
Derinkuyu, Turkey
Megalophobia doesn’t just refer to large things that tower over us; it also includes massive depths. Derinkuyu, an ancient city located 85 meters deep underground, is an example of such a fear. It has multiple levels and a variety of rooms, including cellars, stables, and chapels. At the time of its construction, approximately 20,000 people could have lived comfortably in Derinkuyu, though it would have been a challenge for those with phobias of large things or feeling trapped.
The fear of being confined often crosses over with megalophobia because a space doesn’t have to be small for it to set off feelings of anxiety. In the case of Derinkuyu, its vastness is as terrifying as its underground location.
Three Gorges Dam Ship Elevator, China
Ship elevators have got to be big, but none are as large as the Three Gorges Dam elevator in central China. It spans the length of the Yangtze River, generating hydroelectric power, with an elevator to transport massive ships under the dam. This takes incredible strength and power, as evidenced by the 370 feet tall elevator shaft and 3,000-ton maximum weight. The elevator is a crucial part of the overall dam system, transporting ships quickly and practically.
When viewed from the ground, the Three Gorges Dam ship elevator seems to go on forever. It’s the biggest and most noticeable part of the dam, so it would certainly draw the eye of a person with megalophobia.
The Infinite Universe
We all know that the galaxy is bigger than we could ever imagine, but it’s almost unsettling to think about what else could be out there. When we look up at the sky, we’re seeing a small portion of the rest of the universe. Visible matter only accounts for 5% of the universe, so 95% of it has yet to be explored. Anything could be out there, and the fact that we may never discover what it is is disconcerting.
Astraphobia is specifically a fear of space, but it also factors into megalophobia because there is nothing bigger than the infinite universe, which contains countless stars, planets, galaxies, and other bodies.
Val Trompia, Italy
Val Trompia is one of the main valleys in the Lombardy region of Italy, located at the foot of the Brescia Alps. It stretches 70 miles south to the Po Valley, along the river Mella and through several towns and tributaries. It’s famously known as the “Valley of Lights” because at night, you can see the lights of all the buildings located throughout the valley. The entire landscape glows gold, creating a spectacular horizon.
However, even something so beautiful can be terrifying in its vastness. Val Trompia is absolutely huge, and it would be easy to get lost in it. This thought could overwhelm an individual with megalophobia.
Steep Streets, San Francisco
San Francisco was built on very hilly terrain, so some of its streets seem almost unnaturally steep. This plays with perspective, as you can see in this photograph. The extra height makes the roads look longer and the buildings look taller, and the glimpse of Bay Bridge at the end emphasizes just how massive the city really is. Driving and even walking these steep streets is nerve-wracking, particularly for those with megalophobia.
It’s easy to get lost in the hustle and bustle of a city like San Francisco, and when everything seems so massive, it makes you feel small. These elevations demonstrate how simple things can trigger phobias.