In our daily lives, we often encounter measurements and distances, but sometimes it can be challenging to visualize exactly how big or long certain measurements are.
One such measurement is 500 meters. Whether you’re an athlete, a traveler, or simply curious about the world around you, understanding the scale of 500 meters can be both fascinating and practical.
In this article, we’ll explore eight things that are approximately 500 meters long or big, helping you gain a better perspective on this measurement.
How Far is 500 Meters to Walk?
Before we dive into specific examples, let’s consider how far 500 meters is in terms of walking distance. For most people, walking 500 meters is a comfortable and manageable distance.
It’s roughly equivalent to walking around five city blocks in many urban areas. This distance is long enough to get your heart rate up but not so long that it would be considered a significant hike or trek.
Walking 500 meters can be a great way to incorporate some light exercise into your daily routine. It’s about the distance you might walk from a parking lot to a shopping mall entrance, or from one end of a small park to the other.
For those who are trying to increase their daily step count, walking 500 meters is an excellent goal to start with, as it’s achievable for most people without being overly taxing.
How Far is 500 Meters in Minutes?
The time it takes to cover 500 meters depends on various factors, including your walking speed, fitness level, and the terrain. However, we can provide some general Bto give you an idea of how long it might take to walk this distance.
For an average person walking at a moderate pace of about 5 kilometers per hour (3.1 miles per hour), it would take approximately 6 minutes to walk 500 meters.
If you’re walking briskly or jogging lightly, you might cover this distance in 4-5 minutes. On the other hand, if you’re strolling leisurely or the terrain is challenging, it could take up to 8-10 minutes.
For runners, 500 meters is a common distance in track events. Elite middle-distance runners can cover 500 meters in just over a minute, while recreational runners might take 2-3 minutes to run this distance.
READ THIS BLOG: 8 Things That Are 500 Feet Long or Big
How Big is 500 Meters Visually?
Visualizing 500 meters can be easier when we compare it to familiar objects or distances. Here are a few comparisons to help you grasp the scale:
- Five football fields: A standard American football field is about 100 meters long, so five fields placed end-to-end would give you a good approximation of 500 meters.
- Olympic running track: One lap around a standard Olympic running track is 400 meters. So 500 meters would be slightly more than one lap.
- The length of five and a half American football fields, including end zones.
- About a quarter of the length of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
These comparisons can help you mentally picture 500 meters in various contexts, making it easier to understand this measurement in real-world scenarios.
Things That Are 500 Meters Long
Now that we have a general sense of what 500 meters looks like and feels like, let’s explore eight specific things that are approximately 500 meters long or big. These examples will help solidify your understanding of this measurement and provide interesting facts along the way.
1. BancFirst Tower
The BancFirst Tower, formerly known as Cotter Ranch Tower, is a skyscraper located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Standing at approximately 500 feet (152 meters) tall, it’s not quite 500 meters, but it’s a good starting point for visualizing significant heights.
The tower has 36 floors and was completed in 1971, making it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Oklahoma City’s skyline.
While not reaching the full 500 meters, the BancFirst Tower provides a tangible reference point for understanding substantial vertical distances. It’s tall enough to offer panoramic views of the city and surrounding areas, yet not so tall as to be among the world’s highest skyscrapers.
2. 3x The Height of The Flyer Ferris Wheel
The Singapore Flyer, one of the world’s largest Ferris wheels, stands at an impressive height of 165 meters (541 feet). If you were to stack three of these massive wheels on top of each other, you’d reach a height of approximately 495 meters – very close to our 500-meter mark.
Imagining three of these giant wheels stacked vertically gives you a sense of just how substantial 500 meters is in terms of height. The Singapore Flyer itself offers breathtaking views of the city-state, and multiplying its height by three creates a truly monumental scale that helps put 500 meters into perspective.
3. The Shanghai World Financial Center
The Shanghai World Financial Center is a supertall skyscraper in Shanghai, China. It stands at a height of 492 meters (1,614 feet), just shy of 500 meters. This iconic building, with its distinctive trapezoid aperture at its peak, is one of the tallest buildings in the world and a prominent feature of the Shanghai skyline.
Completed in 2008, the Shanghai World Financial Center houses offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls.
Its immense height, nearly reaching our 500-meter benchmark, provides a real-world example of how tall 500 meters actually is. Standing at the base of this building and looking up gives a visceral sense of this vertical distance.
4. Three Times The Height of The Washington Monument
The Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., stands at 169 meters (555 feet) tall. If you were to stack three Washington Monuments on top of each other, you’d reach a height of 507 meters – just over our 500-meter mark.
This comparison is particularly useful for those familiar with American landmarks. The Washington Monument is an iconic obelisk that dominates the National Mall in the U.S. capital. Imagining it tripled in height helps to convey the impressive scale of 500 meters vertically.
5. QueenB Television Tower
The QueenB Television Tower, located in Toronto, Canada, stands at a height of 499.9 meters (1,640 feet). This communications and observation tower is the tallest freestanding structure in Canada and was the world’s tallest freestanding structure for over three decades until it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
The QueenB Television Tower provides an almost perfect example of a 500-meter structure. Its height allows it to broadcast signals over the Greater Toronto Area and is visible from many parts of the city.
The tower includes an observation deck and a revolving restaurant, offering visitors spectacular views of Toronto and Lake Ontario.
6. Richland Towers in Cedar Hill
The Richland Towers in Cedar Hill, Texas, stand at a height of 501 meters (1,643 feet). These are guyed masts used for broadcasting and are among the tallest structures in Texas. While not as well-known as some of the other examples, these towers provide another real-world instance of a structure reaching the 500-meter mark.
Broadcasting towers like these are essential for transmitting television and radio signals over long distances.
Their extreme height allows signals to travel farther, covering larger areas. The Richland Towers serve as a reminder that not all tall structures are skyscrapers or observation towers; some serve purely functional purposes while still reaching impressive heights.
7. Half The Height of The Angel Falls
Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall, with a height of 979 meters (3,212 feet). Half of this height would be approximately 490 meters, very close to our 500-meter benchmark.
While not an exact match, this comparison helps to put 500 meters into perspective in terms of natural wonders.
Standing at a point where the waterfall’s height is halved, enveloped by the mist and roar of the cascading water, underscores the beauty and majesty within the natural world, inspiring a deep sense of wonder and respect for our planet’s treasures. Get more information about Angel Falls Here.
Angel Falls is so tall that much of the water evaporates or turns into mist before reaching the ground. Imagining half of this majestic waterfall gives you a sense of just how substantial 500 meters is when considered vertically. It’s a height that inspires awe, whether in natural formations or man-made structures.
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8. WWRR Renda Tower
The WWRR Renda Tower, located in Renda, Missouri, is a guyed mast that stands at 495.6 meters (1,626 feet) tall. This structure is used for broadcasting and is one of the tallest structures in Missouri. While it falls just short of 500 meters, it provides another example of how tall structures approaching this height are often used for communication purposes.
Guyed masts like the WWRR Renda Tower are able to reach such heights because they are supported by guy-wires, which provide stability against wind and other forces.
These structures, while not as visually striking as skyscrapers, play a crucial role in our modern communication infrastructure and offer another perspective on what 500 meters looks like in the real world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long would it take an average person to walk 500 meters?
About 6-7 minutes at a moderate pace.
What is the tallest structure mentioned that’s closest to 500 meters?
The QueenB Television Tower in Toronto at 499.9 meters.
How many Olympic running track laps equal 500 meters?
Slightly more than one lap (standard track is 400 meters).
Which natural wonder is used to illustrate 500 meters?
Half the height of Angel Falls in Venezuela (979 meters total).
How many football fields would equal 500 meters in length?
About 5 standard American football fields.
Conclusion
Understanding the scale of 500 meters can be challenging, but comparing it to familiar structures, natural wonders, and everyday experiences helps put this measurement into perspective. From towering skyscrapers to broadcasting masts, from iconic monuments to natural wonders, 500 meters manifests in various impressive ways around the world.
Whether you’re considering it in terms of walking distance, running time, or vertical height, 500 meters is a significant measurement that plays a role in architecture, engineering, sports, and many other aspects of our lives.
Anthony is a seasoned SEO expert with a passion for content writing, keyword research, and web development. He combines technical expertise with creative strategies to deliver exceptional digital solutions.
