LinkedIn Pinpoint #779 Answer for Thursday, June 18, 2026

Answer: Things that are the tallest of their kind

Deep Clue Analysis

Angel Falls (in Venezuela)

The Meaning of the Clue: This is the world's highest uninterrupted waterfall, with water dropping from a height of about 979 meters (3,212 feet) off the Auyán-tepui mountain.

Hyperion (redwood tree in US)

The Meaning of the Clue: This is a specific Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) located in California that currently holds the world record as the tallest living tree on Earth, standing at over 380 feet.

Giraffe (among all land animals)

The Meaning of the Clue: This refers to the African mammal known for its incredibly long neck and legs, which officially makes it the tallest living terrestrial animal in existence today.

Mauna Kea (base to peak)

The Meaning of the Clue: While Mount Everest is the highest above sea level, Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano in Hawaii that is technically the tallest mountain in the world when measured from its underwater base to its peak.

Burj Khalifa (Dubai skyscraper)

The Meaning of the Clue: This is the famous mega-tall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which has held the title of the tallest man-made structure and building in the world since its completion in 2010.

How we solved it based on the clues

When the first clue, Angel Falls, popped up, my mind immediately went to "Natural Wonders" or maybe "Famous Landmarks in South America." It’s such a specific location that it’s easy to get stuck thinking about geography or water-related themes. I actually considered typing in "Famous Waterfalls," but I decided to wait for the second clue to see if that pattern held up.

Then came Hyperion. If you aren't a tree expert, you might just think "Redwoods" or "California." But knowing that Hyperion is the specific name of that one record-breaking tree changed things. I started to see a connection between the "highest" waterfall and the "tallest" tree. My working theory shifted to "World Records in Nature," but that felt a little too broad for a Pinpoint puzzle.

The third clue, the Giraffe, was the "aha!" moment. Giraffes aren't just big; they are specifically known for their height. At this point, I stopped thinking about just nature and started thinking about the physical attribute of verticality. I had a waterfall, a tree, and an animal—all of which are the tallest in their respective categories.

When Mauna Kea appeared with the note "base to peak," it confirmed the "tallest" theme perfectly. The game was being very specific here because if it wanted "highest elevation," it would have used Everest. By choosing Mauna Kea, it was emphasizing the actual physical height of the object itself.

Finally, the Burj Khalifa was the icing on the cake. It moved the theme from just "nature" to "everything." Since we had a building, a mountain, an animal, a tree, and a waterfall, the common thread was undeniable. Every single one of these items represents the absolute peak of height for its specific group. I confidently submitted "Things that are the tallest of their kind" and got the win.

Lessons Learned from this pinpoint

• Look for the "Superlative" connection. When you see famous landmarks or animals, ask yourself if they are the "most," "biggest," or "tallest" of something. Often, Pinpoint puzzles revolve around these record-breaking categories.

• Pay attention to the parenthetical hints. The note "(base to peak)" for Mauna Kea was a huge hint. It was there to steer us away from "high altitude" and toward "vertical height." These little notes are usually the key to narrowing down a broad guess.

• Bridge the gap between natural and man-made. If the clues start with nature (trees, waterfalls) and end with architecture (skyscrapers), the answer has to be a concept that applies to both. "Height" is a perfect example of a universal measurement.

• Specificity matters. The clue wasn't just "a tree," it was "Hyperion." When the game uses a specific proper name for an object, it’s usually because that specific object holds a title or record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was Mauna Kea used instead of Mount Everest for this puzzle?
A: While Mount Everest reaches the highest altitude above sea level, Mauna Kea is technically "taller" when measured from its base on the ocean floor to its peak. Including it with the "base to peak" qualifier was a clever way to signal that the theme was specifically about vertical measurement rather than just elevation.

Q: Is Hyperion the same thing as General Sherman?
A: No, and that’s a common mix-up! General Sherman is a Giant Sequoia and is the largest tree by volume (it's "bulkier"). Hyperion is a Coast Redwood and is the tallest tree by height (it's "longer"). Since the theme was height, Hyperion was the correct choice for the clue.

Q: How does Angel Falls fit the "tallest" theme if it's a waterfall?
A: In the world of geography, waterfalls are measured by their "drop" or height. Angel Falls has the world's longest vertical drop, making it the "tallest" waterfall. It fits the theme because it represents the maximum vertical extent of that specific category of natural feature.

Q: Could the answer have just been "Tall Things"?
**A: While "Tall Things" is close, Pinpoint usually looks for a slightly more descriptive connection.