What is the Angel of the North?
The Angel of the North is a giant steel sculpture by Antony Gormley, standing beside the A1 road in Gateshead, northeast England. Completed in 1998, it is 20 metres tall with wings 54 metres wide.
The sculpture's wingspan is wider than that of a Boeing 757. Its wings are angled slightly forward to create a sense of embrace.
The Angel stands on the site of a former colliery, reflecting the area's coal mining heritage. It was made from weathering steel, which forms a protective rust-colored layer.
A northern symbol
At first, some local people opposed the sculpture. It has since become a much-loved symbol of the North East.
The sculpture is designed to withstand winds of more than 100 miles per hour. Its foundations go deep into the ground.
It is seen by tens of thousands of drivers each day on the A1 and by passengers on the East Coast Main Line railway. In 1998, Newcastle United fans placed a giant football shirt on the sculpture.
Antony Gormley has created many other public artworks, including Another Place on Crosby Beach near Liverpool.