The Storseisundet Bridge Illusion

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The Storseisundet Bridge Illusion uses forced perceptive to create this crazy effect.

Would you make this drive? Scroll down to see the Storseisundet Bridge from a different perspective that might make you feel differently.

Storseisundet Bridge Illusion
Storseisundet Bridge Illusion

Also, if you would like to learn more about the Storseisundet Bridge Illusion, scroll down to learn more about how it works.


Table of Contents

What is the Storseisundet Bridge Illusion?

The Storseisundet bridge is a famous bridge located on the west coast of Norway, in the municipality of Ålesund. It is part of the Atlantic Ocean Road, which is a scenic route that runs along the rugged coastline and through several small islands, and is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

The Storseisundet bridge is known for its dramatic curves and arches, which make it appear as if it is rising up out of the water. It is also famous for its optical illusion, where from a certain angle it appears as if the bridge is not connected to the mainland, but rather ends abruptly in the middle of the water.

The bridge is a popular tourist attraction and has been featured in several movies, TV shows, and commercials.

How does the Storseisundet Bridge Illusion Work?

The illusion of the Storseisundet bridge appearing to rise out of the water and not being connected to the mainland from certain angles is an example of a forced perspective illusion. Forced perspective is a technique that uses optical illusions to make objects appear larger, smaller, closer or farther away than they actually are.

In the case of the Storseisundet bridge, the illusion is created by the bridge’s design, which includes several curves and arches. When viewed from a certain angle, typically from the side of the road, the arches of the bridge appear to be much taller than they actually are, which creates the illusion that the bridge is rising up out of the water.

At the same time, the road leading up to the bridge is designed to be narrow and steep, which makes it appear as if the road is rising up to meet the bridge. This adds to the illusion that the bridge is not connected to the mainland, but rather ends abruptly in the middle of the water.

Overall, the illusion of the Storseisundet bridge is created by a combination of the bridge’s design, the road leading up to it, and the viewer’s perspective. It is a great example of how optical illusions can be used to create stunning visual effects in architecture and design.

Some Similar Illusions

The Storseisundet Bridge Illusion uses forced perspective which is a technique that can be used to create a wide range of illusions, and there are several examples of similar illusions that use similar principles. Here are a few examples:

  1. Ames room illusion: This illusion is created by building a room that is shaped like a trapezoid, with one corner much closer to the viewer than the other corner. When viewed from a certain angle, the room appears to be a perfectly rectangular shape, but in reality, the walls are slanted and the ceiling is higher on one side. This illusion is often used in movies and TV shows to make actors appear larger or smaller than they actually are.
  2. Forced scale illusion: This illusion is created by placing objects of different sizes in a way that makes them appear to be the same size. For example, a person standing farther away from a larger object will appear to be the same size as a person standing closer to a smaller object. This illusion is often used in photography and art to create interesting visual effects.
  3. Tilted room illusion: This illusion is created by building a room that is tilted at an angle, so that the floor and walls are not parallel to each other. When viewed from a certain angle, the room appears to be a perfectly normal rectangular shape, but in reality, the floor and walls are slanted. This illusion can be used to create interesting visual effects, such as rooms that appear to be sliding or tilting.
  4. Oversized object illusion: This illusion is created by placing an object that is much larger than it should be in a scene. For example, a giant spoon or pencil can be placed next to a person or a building to make them appear much smaller than they actually are. This illusion is often used in advertising and marketing to create attention-grabbing visuals.

Discovery of the Forced Perspective

The Storseisundet Bridge Illusion used forced perspective has been used in art and architecture for centuries, and its origins are not clear. However, it is known that the technique was widely used by Renaissance artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Andrea Mantegna to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality in their paintings.

The term “forced perspective” was first used in the 20th century by Richard Fleischer, a film director, who used the technique in his movies. Fleischer popularized the term and the technique, which involves using optical illusions to create a sense of depth and dimensionality in a scene.

Today, forced perspective is used in a wide range of fields, including film and television, photography, art, and architecture. It continues to be a popular technique for creating stunning visual effects and illusions.


References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.