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Extraordinarz — Records & Superlatives Encyclopedia
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gap : .4rem;
}
/* Sections */
.extr-sec {
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.extr-sec.ivory {
background : var(--ivory);
}
.extr-sec h2 {
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font-weight : 600;
font-size : clamp(1.9rem,3.4vw,2.7rem);
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margin : 0;
text-wrap : balance;
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.extr-sec .lead {
color : var(--supporting);
max-width : 58ch;
margin : .7rem 0 0;
font-size : 1.02rem;
}
.extr-sechead {
display : flex;
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align-items : flex-end;
gap : 1rem;
margin-bottom : 2.2rem;
}
.extr-sechead .kicker {
color : var(--wine);
display : inline-flex;
align-items : center;
gap : .5rem;
}
.extr-more {
font-family : var(--head);
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font-size : .9rem;
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.extr-more:hover {
color : var(--wine-bright);
}
/* Value band */
.extr-vals {
display : grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(3,1fr);
gap : 1.2rem;
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.extr-val {
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border : 1px solid var(--hair);
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padding : 1.6rem;
position : relative;
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.extr-val .ic {
width : 42px;
height : 42px;
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display : grid;
place-items : center;
background : linear-gradient(180deg,var(--wine-bright),var(--wine-deep));
color : var(--gold-lt);
margin-bottom : 1rem;
font-size : 1.05rem;
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.extr-val h3 {
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font-weight : 600;
font-size : 1.08rem;
margin : 0 0 .4rem;
}
.extr-val p {
color : var(--supporting);
font-size : .93rem;
margin : 0;
}
/* Record cards — the money content */
.extr-grid {
display : grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill,minmax(280px,1fr));
gap : 1.1rem;
}
.extr-card {
position : relative;
display : flex;
flex-direction : column;
background : var(--white);
border : 1px solid var(--hair);
border-radius : 14px;
overflow : hidden;
transition : transform .18s,box-shadow .2s,border-color .2s;
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.extr-card:hover {
transform : translateY(-4px);
box-shadow : 0 22px 44px -22px rgba(42,26,20,.42);
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.extr-card .top {
background : linear-gradient(120deg,var(--wine),var(--wine-deep));
padding : 1.1rem 1.2rem .9rem;
position : relative;
overflow : hidden;
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.extr-card .top::after {
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position : absolute;
right : -24px;
bottom : -30px;
width : 96px;
height : 96px;
border-radius : 50%;
background : radial-gradient(circle,rgba(242,200,121,.28),transparent 66%);
}
.extr-card .rank {
font-family : var(--head);
font-weight : 800;
font-size : .7rem;
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text-transform : uppercase;
color : var(--gold-lt);
display : inline-flex;
align-items : center;
gap : .4rem;
position : relative;
}
.extr-card .rank .star {
width : .75rem;
height : .75rem;
}
.extr-card .top h3 {
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font-weight : 600;
font-size : 1.22rem;
line-height : 1.18;
color : var(--ivory);
margin : .5rem 0 0;
position : relative;
}
.extr-card .body {
padding : 1.05rem 1.2rem 1.25rem;
flex : 1;
display : flex;
flex-direction : column;
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.extr-card .body p {
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margin : 0;
display : -webkit-box;
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-webkit-box-orient : vertical;
overflow : hidden;
}
.extr-card .go {
margin-top : .95rem;
font-family : var(--head);
font-weight : 600;
font-size : .85rem;
color : var(--wine);
display : inline-flex;
gap : .4rem;
align-items : center;
}
/* Wonders shelf — profile chips */
.extr-shelf {
display : grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill,minmax(230px,1fr));
gap : .9rem;
}
.extr-wonder {
display : flex;
gap : .9rem;
align-items : flex-start;
background : var(--white);
border : 1px solid var(--hair);
border-radius : 13px;
padding : 1rem 1.15rem;
transition : .2s;
}
.extr-wonder:hover {
border-color : var(--wine);
box-shadow : 0 12px 26px -18px rgba(122,46,46,.5);
}
.extr-wonder .medal {
width : 40px;
height : 40px;
flex : none;
border-radius : 50%;
display : grid;
place-items : center;
background : radial-gradient(circle at 50% 38%,var(--gold-lt),var(--gold));
color : var(--wine-deep);
}
.extr-wonder .medal .star {
width : 1rem;
height : 1rem;
color : var(--wine-deep);
}
.extr-wonder h3 {
font-family : var(--head);
font-weight : 600;
font-size : 1rem;
margin : .05rem 0 .2rem;
}
.extr-wonder p {
color : var(--muted);
font-size : .83rem;
margin : 0;
line-height : 1.4;
display : -webkit-box;
-webkit-line-clamp : 2;
-webkit-box-orient : vertical;
overflow : hidden;
}
/* Categories — museum wing tiles */
.extr-cats {
display : grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill,minmax(250px,1fr));
gap : .9rem;
}
.extr-cat {
display : block;
background : var(--white);
border : 1px solid var(--hair);
border-radius : 13px;
padding : 1.3rem 1.35rem;
transition : .2s;
position : relative;
border-left : 3px solid var(--gold);
}
.extr-cat:hover {
background : var(--ivory);
border-color : var(--wine);
border-left-color : var(--wine);
transform : translateY(-2px);
}
.extr-cat h3 {
font-family : var(--head);
font-weight : 600;
font-size : 1.08rem;
margin : 0 0 .25rem;
color : var(--wine);
}
.extr-cat .arw {
font-family : var(--head);
font-weight : 600;
font-size : .82rem;
color : var(--muted);
}
/* How it works — the sourcing standard */
.extr-steps {
display : grid;
grid-template-columns: repeat(3,1fr);
gap : 1.4rem;
}
.extr-step {
position : relative;
padding-top : .5rem;
}
.extr-step .n {
font-family : var(--display);
font-weight : 600;
font-size : 2.2rem;
color : var(--gold);
line-height : 1;
}
.extr-step h3 {
font-family : var(--head);
font-weight : 600;
font-size : 1.1rem;
margin : .6rem 0 .4rem;
}
.extr-step p {
color : var(--supporting);
font-size : .94rem;
margin : 0;
}
.extr-step::before {
content : "";
position : absolute;
top : 1.15rem;
left : 2.6rem;
right : -.7rem;
height : 1px;
background : var(--hair);
}
.extr-step:last-child::before {
display : none;
}
@media(max-width:760px) {
.extr-vals,.extr-steps {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.extr-step::before {
display : none;
}
}
/* Closing CTA */
.extr-close {
position : relative;
background : linear-gradient(120deg,#5F2020,#7A2E2E 55%,#9A3B3B);
border-radius : 22px;
padding : 3.6rem 2rem;
text-align : center;
color : var(--ivory);
overflow : hidden;
border : 1px solid rgba(224,166,62,.4);
}
.extr-close::before {
content : "";
position : absolute;
inset : 0;
opacity : .55;
background-image : repeating-linear-gradient(0deg,rgba(251,243,238,.06) 0 1px,transparent 1px 40px),repeating-linear-gradient(90deg,rgba(251,243,238,.06) 0 1px,transparent 1px 40px);
mask-image : radial-gradient(80% 90% at 50% 0,#000,transparent 76%);
}
.extr-close .burst {
position : relative;
font-size : 1.6rem;
color : var(--gold-lt);
}
.extr-close h2 {
position : relative;
font-family : var(--display);
font-weight : 600;
font-size : clamp(1.9rem,4vw,2.9rem);
margin : .4rem 0 0;
}
.extr-close p {
position : relative;
color : #F1DDD3;
margin : .8rem auto 1.8rem;
max-width : 48ch;
}
/* Footer */
.extr-foot {
background : var(--ink);
color : #B7A79D;
padding : 3.2rem 0 2.2rem;
font-size : .9rem;
}
.extr-foot .shell {
display : flex;
justify-content : space-between;
gap : 2rem;
flex-wrap : wrap;
align-items : flex-start;
}
.extr-foot img {
height : 32px;
margin-bottom : .9rem;
}
.extr-foot a {
color : #E4D6CC;
transition : color .2s;
}
.extr-foot a:hover {
color : var(--gold-lt);
}
.extr-foot .disc {
max-width : 50ch;
color : #8B7B71;
font-size : .82rem;
line-height : 1.55;
margin : .4rem 0 0;
}
.extr-foot .links {
display : flex;
gap : 1.5rem;
font-family : var(--head);
font-weight : 500;
flex-wrap : wrap;
}
.extr-copy {
margin-top : 2.2rem;
padding-top : 1.2rem;
border-top : 1px solid rgba(224,166,62,.16);
color : #7A6A60;
font-size : .8rem;
}
@media(prefers-reduced-motion:reduce) {
.extr * {
transition : none !important;
animation : none !important;
}
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="extr">
<header class="extr-head">
<div class="shell">
<a aria-label="Extraordinarz home" href="/">
<img alt="Extraordinarz" src="https://extraordinarz.com/sites/extraordinarz/logo-horizontal-onnavy.svg">
</a>
<nav class="extr-nav">
<a href="/records">
Records
</a>
<a href="/wonders">
Wonders
</a>
<a href="#categories">
Categories
</a>
<a href="/how-we-write">
How we source
</a>
</nav>
<a class="blog" href="https://blog.extraordinarz.com">
Read the journal
</a>
</div>
</header>
<section class="extr-hero">
<div class="shell">
<div>
<span class="kicker">
<span class="star">
</span>
The records & superlatives encyclopedia
</span>
<h1>
The biggest, fastest, rarest — documented.
</h1>
<p class="sub">
A source-first almanac of world records and superlatives. Every entry names the current record-holder, states the figure with its unit and scope, gives an as-of date, and links to the wonders it relates to.
</p>
<div class="extr-cta">
<a class="extr-btn primary" href="/records">
Explore the records →
</a>
<a class="extr-btn ghost" href="#categories">
Browse by category
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div aria-hidden="true" class="extr-ledger">
<span class="lgd-star">
<span class="star">
</span>
</span>
<div class="lgd-title">
On the podium
</div>
<div class="extr-row top">
<span class="r num">
1
</span>
<span class="nm">
Burj Khalifa
</span>
<span class="vl num">
828 m
</span>
</div>
<div class="extr-row">
<span class="r num">
2
</span>
<span class="nm">
Merdeka 118
</span>
<span class="vl num">
678.9 m
</span>
</div>
<div class="extr-row">
<span class="r num">
3
</span>
<span class="nm">
Shanghai Tower
</span>
<span class="vl num">
632 m
</span>
</div>
<div class="extr-row">
<span class="r num">
4
</span>
<span class="nm">
Makkah Clock Tower
</span>
<span class="vl num">
601 m
</span>
</div>
<div class="extr-row">
<span class="r num">
5
</span>
<span class="nm">
Ping An Finance Centre
</span>
<span class="vl num">
599.1 m
</span>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<div class="extr-strip">
<div class="shell">
<span>
<b class="num">
9+
</b>
records & wonders documented
</span>
<span class="sep">
·
</span>
<span>
Every figure
<b>
cited & dated
</b>
</span>
<span class="sep">
·
</span>
<span class="vf">
<span class="star">
</span>
Source-first, no unsupported claims
</span>
</div>
</div>
<section class="extr-sec">
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Why Extraordinarz
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A record is a claim — ours carry receipts
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★
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The #1, then the field
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Every entry names the current record-holder and lines up the runners-up beneath it — the figure, the unit and the scope, in a clean ranked table.
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✓
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Cited and dated
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Records change, so each value is drawn from a named, publicly verifiable source and carries an as-of date. No fabricated numbers, no unsupported “of all time.”
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∞
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Everything connects
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The tallest building links to the wonder that holds the title; the fastest sprinter to the fastest animal. Follow a record to the story behind it.
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World Records
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Featured records
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Superlative topics ranked and sourced — the #1, the runners-up, the numbers and the story.
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All records →
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The record
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The Most Expensive Paintings Ever Sold
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Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi is the most expensive painting ever sold, at $450.3 million in 2017.
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See the ranking →
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The record
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The Fastest Human-Made Object
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NASA's Parker Solar Probe is the fastest human-made object, reaching about 692,000 km/h near the Sun.
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See the ranking →
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The record
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The Fastest Human Sprinters
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Usain Bolt holds the 100 m world record at 9.58 seconds, set in Berlin in 2009.
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See the ranking →
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The record
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The Deepest Free Dives
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Herbert Nitsch reached 253.2 metres on a single breath in the No-Limits freediving discipline in 2012.
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The record
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The Most Distant Human-Made Object
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Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object, over 24 billion kilometres from Earth and still transmitting.
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See the ranking →
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The record
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The Most Expensive Cars Ever Sold
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A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold for €135 million in 2022, the most ever paid for a car.
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See the ranking →
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The Wonders Shelf
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The record-holders themselves
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Profiles of the exceptional people, places and objects behind the records.
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All wonders →
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<a class="extr-wonder" href="/wonders/burj-khalifa">
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Burj Khalifa
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The 828-metre Dubai skyscraper that has been the world's tallest building since 2010.
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Usain Bolt
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The Jamaican sprinter who holds the 100 m and 200 m world records and won eight Olympic gold medals.
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Salvator Mundi
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The Leonardo-attributed painting of Christ that became the most expensive artwork ever sold.
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</section>
<section class="extr-sec ivory" id="categories">
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Browse the wings
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Records by category
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<a class="extr-cat" href="/architecture">
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Architecture
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Explore Architecture →
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Nature & Animals
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Explore Nature & Animals →
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Space
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Explore Space →
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Human Feats
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Explore Human Feats →
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Art & Money
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Explore Art & Money →
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Geography
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Explore Geography →
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How we record superlatives
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From a claim to a sourced record
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01
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Find the holder
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We identify the current record-holder and the field behind it, then pull the figure, its unit and the scope it applies to.
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02
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Cite & date it
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Every value is traced to a named, publicly verifiable source and stamped with an as-of date, because records don’t stand still.
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03
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Rank & connect
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We line up the runners-up, note where methods differ, and link each record to the wonders and rival records it relates to.
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<h2>
Every superlative, sourced
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From the tallest building to the rarest blood type — open any record for its #1 holder, the ranked field, the figures and the citations.
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Explore the encyclopedia →
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Extraordinarz is an independent records & superlatives encyclopedia. Every figure is drawn from a cited, publicly verifiable source and carries an as-of date. Some outbound links may be affiliate links, always disclosed and never changing what we document or how we rank it. Not investment, legal or medical advice.
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