R306 – Reaching for the Clouds

When talking about the tallest structures in the world, many could win Taipei 101 hands down. In fact there are over 100 structures which are higher than 500 metres. Most of them are television broadcasting masts. These masts are used to support telecommunication equipments such as antennas.

A mast is very tall and thin, hence is extremely susceptible to wind and earthquake influences. A small perturbation could cause it to snap and topple, thus requiring wires and ropes for stabilization. The Warsaw radio mast in Poland was the tallest structure, at 646 metres, when it was completed in 1974. However due to an error in exchanging the supporting wires, the mast bent, snapped and collapsed. Since then, the KYLV-TV mast in North Dakota, United States became the tallest structure until it was overtaken last year by a much higher freestanding building.

A famous structure, not classified under the rankings of tallest buildings, is the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. It held the record of the tallest freestanding (unsupported) structure until the same building overtook it in 2007. At 553 metres, the CN Tower is a communications and observation tower, and an iconic symbol of Canada, attracting large number of tourists annually.

There are 2 visitor decks, the higher one located at 446 metres high just below the metal antenna, called ‘Sky Pod’. Sky Pod is currently the 2^nd highest public observation deck in the world after SWFC. On a clear day it is possible to see the mist rising from Niagara Falls. An emergency metal staircase reaches Sky Pod after 2579 steps from the bottom, and it is used for charity stair-climb events. An average person would take 30 minutes to climb, but the fastest record is 7 minutes 52 seconds.

The lower main deck (donut-shaped) has a glass floor, such that visitors could see 342 metres below their feet. Not suitable for those with height phobia. There is also a revolving restaurant, which makes one revolution in 72 minutes.

Another similar tower is Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Russia. It was the very first freestanding structure which exceeded the half-kilometre mark, and held the record of the tallest before being overtaken by CN Tower.

So what’s the supertall building which has surpassed CN Tower, KYLV-TV mast and Taipei 101 to sweep the record of the tallest structure, tallest freestanding structure and tallest building in the world? We shall see the next entry.