  We report the discovery of the largest giant radio galaxy, J1420-0545: a FR
type II radio source with an angular size of 17.4' identified with an optical
galaxy at z=0.3067. Thus, the projected linear size of the radio structure is
4.69 Mpc (if we assume that H_{0}=71 km\s\Mpc, Omega_{m}=0.27, and
Omega_{\Lambda}=0.73). This makes it larger than 3C236, which is the largest
double radio source known to date. New radio observations with the 100 m
Effelsberg telescope and the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope, as well as
optical identification with a host galaxy and its optical spectroscopy with the
William Herschel Telescope are reported. The spectrum of J1420-0545 is typical
of elliptical galaxies in which continuum emission with the characteristic
4000A discontinuity and the H and K absorption lines are dominated by evolved
stars. The dynamical age of the source, its jets' power, the energy density,
and the equipartition magnetic field are calculated and compared with the
corresponding parameters of other giant and normal-sized radio galaxies from a
comparison sample. The source is characterized by the exceptionally low density
of the surrounding IGM and an unexpectedly high expansion speed of the source
along the jet axis. All of these may suggest a large inhomogeneity of the IGM.
