Amazing 3D optical illusion puts you on top of the world

The photo above might appear to show a giant, earthen ball covered in grass and dotted with trees, but look closer. It's actually a massive optical illusion which was created by artist François Abelanet and installed outside the Paris Town Hall. Stretching over 100 meters, the creation forms a perfect globe when viewed from just the right angle.

The complicated structure is actually a hilly, distorted stretch of land that appears as a 3D globe with help from the perfectly-placed white lines painted upon it. People walking on the exhibit can appear as miniatures, depending on what part of the artwork they are standing. Viewing the piece from a different angle quickly ruins the illusion, and reveals it to be simply a trick of the eye.

This isn't the first piece of land art that Abelanet has created, and in fact, it's not even his first amazing globe. His personal website shows off a plethora of other astounding pieces, including an equally impressive cubed design that might bend your mind in two.

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