Gollis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gollis |
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|---|---|
| Year | 1992 |
| Medium | Plastic |
| Subject | Santa Claus |
| Dimensions | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Location | Lyngseidet |
| 69°35′N 20°13′E / 69.583°N 20.217°E | |
Gollis is a very tall statue of Santa Claus located in Norway. It stands about 9 meters (30 feet) high and is made from plastic. You can find this giant Santa in Lyngseidet, a town in the Lyngen area, which is part of the Troms og Finnmark county.
Many people know Gollis as the World's Biggest Santa Claus. It has become a popular spot for tourists visiting the region.
History of Gollis
Gollis was built in 1992. At that time, Werner Kiil was the mayor of Lyngen Municipality. He had the idea to create a large Santa Claus sculpture for the area.
The mayor gave this special project to a teacher. The teacher then assigned it as a task to students at a local plastics school. This is how the huge Santa Claus statue came to be.
Gollis is located in Lyngseidet. This town is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) north of the village of Furuflaten. You can also reach Lyngseidet by taking a 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) ferry ride from Olderdalen.
Public Opinion on Gollis
Gollis is quite popular with people who visit the area. However, the local residents have different opinions about it. Some people in Lyngen might see Gollis as a symbol of their friendly community.
On the other hand, the statue has also received some criticism. It was once voted the "ugliest tourist attraction in Norway" by the newspaper Verdens Gang. This shows that while it attracts visitors, not everyone loves its look!
