An enigmatic building has sparked curiosity among “netizens,” as it appears to shrink when approached, leaving many in disbelief.
Here is the video:
Source: Emma Shand.
This video was captured by a person named Emma Shand while passing through an area in Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. She mentions that there is a “mystery” that few truly understand, which is a building—a factory—with very peculiar dimensions.
Emma states: “Normally, when you drive closer to something, you would expect it to look bigger, but in this case, the building appears to get smaller, as if it is ‘shrinking’.”
The video confirms Emma’s observations. As the car approaches the end of the road, nearest to the factory, the building appears significantly smaller than it did about 30 seconds prior.
Many netizens expressed disbelief at seeing the building “shrink” and could not understand why this phenomenon occurs.
From a distance, the building appears very large. (Photo: Emma Shand).
However, some individuals offered a completely reasonable explanation for this phenomenon: This is a visual illusion known as the “Ponzo Effect” or “Moon Illusion.”
This effect refers to the illusion that occurs when our brains perceive the size of an object based on the context surrounding it. The case of the “shrinking factory” is related to the observer’s ability to see the horizon.
As the car approaches the factory, the horizon is not visible, leading your brain to interpret that the factory is very large (much larger than it actually is). But as the vehicle gets closer and the horizon becomes visible, your perception adjusts, creating the effect that the factory is “shrinking” rapidly.
The closer you get, the smaller the building appears. (Photo: Emma Shand).
Even with such a straightforward explanation, witnessing a building seemingly shrink right before your eyes is indeed a bizarre experience. In fact, out of every ten people who drive by for the first time, nine will often circle back for a closer look.
