Atlas Obscura · People & society

Wahpper: The World's Largest Catfish Sculpture

In Wahpeton, North Dakota, a 40-foot-long, 5,000-pound catfish sculpture named Wahpper stands as a unique roadside attraction.

Wahpper, created by sculptor Dave Oswald, was unveiled in 1997. It was a collaborative project costing approximately $12,000, funded by local businesses and committees.

The sculpture is located along the Red River of the North, a river known for trophy channel catfish. Wahpper's name is a blend of 'Wahpeton' and 'whopper,' a fishing term for a large catch.

Annually, during spring snowmelt, the Red River often floods, submerging Wahpper's pedestal. This makes the giant catfish appear to be swimming in the floodplain for a few days.

Wahpper's claim as the 'World's Largest' is sometimes debated with Muddy the Mudcat in Dunnville, Ontario, which is longer but less massive and anatomically realistic.

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