Bruce: World's Largest Mosasaur Statue

Morden, Manitoba

One of the most famous fossils ever found was found near Morden, and is now on exhibit in the town's Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre. It's a 43-foot-long sea monster Mosasaur -- the largest on public display in the world. Named "Bruce," the 80-million-year-old fossil was dug up in 1974.

Forty years later, the town decided to build a life-size full-color replica of Bruce and incorporate him into the Morden welcome sign; its letters, made of solid concrete, weigh between two and three tons apiece. The fake Bruce was modeled on exact measurements of the real Bruce, down to his double row of flanged teeth. The extreme visibility of the sign and Mosasaur was considered essential, since the Fossil Discovery Centre itself is underground.

Bruce was dedicated on August 27, 2016, just before the Corn and Apple Parade.