Amazing Tall Towers

The amazing Tall Towers. Some are among the world's tallest man-made structures. Others are remarkable for the ingenuity of their engineering.

Unlike skyscrapers, none of these structures provide habitable living quarters or offices. Instead, these amazing tall towers function as radio and television communication platforms, observation decks, and tourist attractions.

CN Tower, Toronto, Canada

                                                      

The CN Tower was built by the Canadian National Railway to provide a major TV and radio communication system for Toronto, Canada. Ownership of the tower was transferred to Canada Lands Company, a real estate development corporation, in 1995. The name CN Tower now stands for Canada's National Tower instead of Canadian National Tower. However, most people simply use the abbreviation, CN Tower.

At the center of the CN Tower is a hollow, hexagon-shaped concrete pillar with electrical lines, plumbing, stairwells, and six elevators. At the peak is a 102-metre (334.6 ft) tall antenna that broadcasts TV and radio signals.

The main support pillar for the CN Tower was constructed by hydraulically raising a large metal platform from the base. A helicopter erected the antenna in 36 sections.

Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Russia

Located in the Ostankino district of Moscow, Ostankino Tower was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution in Russia. Ostankino Tower is a radio and television broadcast tower and also a major tourist attraction with an observation deck.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai, China

The architects of Oriental Pearl Tower incorporated Chinese legends into its design. The Oriental Pearl Tower is composed of eleven spheres supported by three columns. From the distance, the Tower resembles pearls set between the dragon-like forms of the Yangpu Bridge and the Nanpu Bridge.

Space Needle in Seattle, Washington

The 605 foot (184 meter) Space Needle was envisioned by Edward E. Carlson, who was president of Western International Hotels. Carlson's sketch became an icon for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle, and after many adaptations, architect John Graham and his team of architects transformed the balloon-topped tower that Carlson sketched into the saucer-topped tower we see today.

Massive steel beams form the slender legs and upper body of the Seattle Space Needle. The Space Needle is designed to withstand a wind velocity of 200 miles per hour, but storms occasionally force the facility to close. Several earth tremors have caused the Needle to sway. However, the original designers doubled the 1962 building code requirements, enabling the Space Needle to withstand even greater jolts.

The Space Needle was completed in December 1961, and officially opened four months later on the first day of the World's Fair, April 21, 1962. The Space Needle has been extensively renovated. Nearly every aspect of the 1962 World's Fair centerpiece has been or is being updated, including the entry level, restaurant, and Observation Deck, all the way down to the grounds surrounding the attraction.

Legacy Light

The Space Needle's Legacy Light was first illuminated on New Year's Eve 1999/2000, and has been shown on major national holidays. A beam of light that shines skyward from the top of the Space Needle, the Legacy Light honors national holidays and commemorates special occasions in Seattle. The Legacy Light is based on the original concept of a beam of light shining atop the Space Needle, as depicted in the official 1962 World's Fair poster.

Montjuic Communications Tower in Barcelona, Spain

The Montjuic Tower has the usual dish antennas, but they are enclosed in a graceful arc. Thus, architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava transformed a utilitarian communications tower into a work of sculpture.