Pineapples! A favourite fruit for many, savoured for its sweetness and versatility, the tropical fruit makes its way into everything from delectable jams to fruit salad and desserts; something about it tastes great. But what if you stayed inside a pineapple? Imagine turning this tropical fruit into an extraordinary building? Sounds exciting? We’re talking about the biggest and most unique pineapple in the world.
Where is it located
Located on the outskirts of Bathurst, South Africa, the gigantic fruit is the largest amongst all man-made pineapples. The surrounding area is mostly agricultural; the space is a pineapple farm and a symbol of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province pineapple industry.
Past of the pineapple
The iconic building represents the region’s thriving pineapple industry and honours the legacy of the previous settlers of the region. The area was arid, and the settling farmers struggled to grow crops until they successfully grew pineapples. The yield made the region prosperous, and with that came Barrie Purdon, a gentleman who combined the skills and enthusiasm of the local pineapple growers and put together a scheme, drawing attention to the region’s favourite fruit.
What is actually this giant fruit?
The Eastern Cape contributes to producing over 75 per cent of South Africa’s juicy pineapples. Bathurst happens to be one of South Africa’s agricultural hotspots, and over the years, the big pineapple has been captivating tourists far and wide. The iconic world’s biggest pineapple was constructed in the year 1990 and was opened to the public a year later.
Venture inside the pineapple
Inspired by Queensland’s ‘Big Pineapple’, the structure stands tallest with an impressive height of 16.7 metres. It is 70 centimetres taller than its Australian counterpart and appears like a giant realistic fruit that sprouted out of the ground. The landmark is very well known to tourists, thanks to Bathurst’s pineapple farms. The structure is a marvel on its own, built with a fibreglass skin, with a steel and concrete superstructure.
The first floor houses a curio shop that offers a wide variety of pineapple-related yum products like jams, chutneys, juices, ice lollies and figurines. Head to the second floor and you will find a museum dedicated to the fruit. Don’t forget to watch the displays of the pineapple industry. And on the third floor, you can watch a movie on pineapples, a visual presentation about the history and cultivation of the fruit.
Things to do at the ‘Big Pineapple’
This big fruit is a popular spot for tourists to visit. Guests can relax and chill at an experimental pineapple farm, filled with fruits of various shapes and sizes. If you are here, don’t forget to take pictures of the field and enjoy the beautiful view. There is a stretch of lawn where children can play, or families can take photos while posing at the stand-in frame of the Big Pineapple.
FAQs
What is the ‘Big Pineapple’?
The ‘Big Pineapple’ is the biggest manmade pineapple building in South Africa. It is slightly taller than its counterpart in Australia and is a great tourist spot.
Where is the ‘Big Pineapple’?
The ‘Big Pineapple’ is located in Bathurst, South Africa.
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