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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Ted Thornhill

Viral video shows Canadian mill shrinking due to optical illusion

  • An abandoned mill in Port Colborne, Ontario, has become a viral internet sensation and local tourist attraction due to a mind-boggling optical illusion.
  • Dubbed the “Incredible Shrinking Mill,” the structure appears to get smaller the closer one approaches it, as demonstrated in popular social media videos.
  • The phenomenon is caused by the Ponzo illusion, where converging lines, such as road edges, trees, and houses, trick the brain into perceiving objects differently sized.
  • The Port Colborne grain terminal, which served the Great Lakes region for 125 years, has been vacant since the end of 2024.
  • Local residents have been invited to submit suggestions for the future use of the historic structure.

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