The sight of a flag pole is familiar, as every school, government building and major city square has one, with the flag waving proudly on the breezes blowing. The flag pole or staff displays the flag perfectly, and given how flags are symbols of a nation, it is but natural that the “bigger is better” build has made its way to flagpoles. Here’s a quick tour of the tallest poles in the world.

Most interesting in monster flag pole history is the so-called flagpole war between North and South Korea. The South Korean government put up a pole 98.4 meters tall to fly a 130 kilo flag. The North Korean government retaliated by building a 160 meter pole to fly a flag weighing in at 270 kilos. Both flags are located near the demilitarized zone and can be seen from both borders.

National Flag Square in Bayil, Baku, Azerbaijan boasts an awe inspiring 162 meter tall pole. The flag, which measures 70 meters by 35 meters, suffered damage after installation due to strong winds. This was replaced by another flag, which also got ripped into two due to the prevailing winds. Holding the current record is the Dunshanbe Flagpole in Tajikistan, which tops the Azerbaijan pole by 3 meters. A different record is held by the Ashbagad, Turkmenistan flagpole, which at 133 meters, is the tallest unsupported flagpole in the world, and boasts a flag that is two tennis courts wide.

These gigantic poles support flags that are huge and heavy, but the height pays off. These flagpoles can be seen for miles around.