Visiting God: the tallest skyscrapers in the world

To see distant horizons from a height and look down upon clouds and birds – for some reason this attracts many. Maybe that’s why the legend of the Tower of Babel arose. And when technology allowed, man began to create what brought him closer to the sky – skyscrapers.

Every year, megacities of the world compete in the construction of their “towers of Babel.” For example, on March 30, the Tokyo Midtown Tower opened in the Japanese capital. An architectural masterpiece 248 meters high – the highest in Tokyo, which is already famous for its skyscrapers – is located in the Tokyo district of Roppongi. In the new center, tourists can not only make purchases and eat delicious food in 130 shops and restaurants of the tower, but also if they wish to settle in it. It is worth mentioning that the tower was built using the most modern engineering solutions and equipment, and its seismological stability, which is very important for troubled Japan in this regard, according to experts, is considered one of the best among similar structures in the world.

Although Tokyo Midtown will be the tallest skyscraper, it is not the tallest building in the city. The first place is occupied by the steel tower Tokyo Tower 333 m high, erected in 1958 as a symbol of the economic power of Japan. However, this is far from the maximum height.

The first place in the world in height at the moment is held by the Canadian CN Tower, whose height is 553.33 meters. From it, in clear weather, even Niagara Falls is visible. A tower tour is included in almost all sightseeing tours in Canada.

In second place is the Taipei 101, which was not much behind in terms of footage, which opened in 2004 in Taiwan. Its height is 508 m. The highlight of this complex is the presence of an observatory.

Third place goes to the Skywalk tourist skyscraper, which opened in 2005 in Sydney. The 268-meter tower can take no more than 30 people at the top, but its other levels are accessible to everyone. When climbing the roof over clothes, it is necessary to wear a yellow-blue jumpsuit, and while climbing, constantly hold on to a special safety handrail. At a height of 160 meters, a special platform with a circular overview of the city was built on the tower. And in two places there are transparent platforms, stepping on which you involuntarily experience a chilling feeling in your stomach. The new attraction is more than two times higher than the Sydney Bridge, which is very popular among tourists, thrown across the strait, and is quite cheap – from 109 to 139 Australian dollars (82-105 US dollars).

Fourth place is taken by the twin towers “Petronas” in Kuala Lumpur. This Malaysian miracle of architectural thought reaches 452 meters in height.

The legendary Empire State Building – 449 meters – is slightly behind the twin towers. However, the fifth position is unlikely to upset the building, which has become a tourist mecca: it is worth remembering that this building, built back in the early 30s of the 20th century, first jumped four hundred meters. And before the World Trade Center towers were built, he held the title of the tallest building in New York for a long time. However, after their fall, Empire again became a leader.

Those who do not want to travel the world in search of skyscrapers should go to Frankfurt. This financial and business capital of Germany boasts dozens of modern high-rise buildings. Tourists will be able to verify this by visiting the Skyscraper Festival on May 12 and 13, 2007. After all, a skyscraper is an open space for tourism and recreation: fans of extreme and unusual sports will not be able to deny themselves the pleasure of competing in running on stairs for a while, or in parachuting from the tallest buildings. Those who find this not enough will be able to take a walk in balloons and watch the first and second ones from the basket. With the onset of darkness, the holiday will continue, because aesthetes say that one of the most beautiful sights on the planet is the multicolor fireworks reflected in the glazed bulks of skyscrapers.

Like any records, records of heights will also be broken more than once. The construction of the Federation Tower within the Moscow City complex, which is called the highest skyscraper in Europe, has not yet been completed, and tours are already offered there. True, not travel agencies, but, for example, extreme travel guides, distributing information on blogs. But if you do not want to risk your head and pay money it is not clear to anyone, there is an official and free option, however, only on Tuesdays and Fridays, as well as every second Saturday at one o’clock in the afternoon. Learn more and apply on the website of the Federation business complex. The tour includes visits to offices that are already operating, the part of the building under construction and, of course, the observation deck, which is now at an altitude of about 200 meters. When the construction is completed, the site will be at the level of 93 floors at an altitude of 350 meters. For comparison, the observation deck of the Ostankino TV tower is located a little lower, at an altitude of 337 meters.

And in 2007 it is planned to complete the construction of the building of the World Financial Center in Shanghai, to which the palm will pass among all the skyscrapers.

And in 2007 it is planned to complete the construction of the building of the World Financial Center in Shanghai, to which the palm will pass among all the skyscrapers.

However, the Tower of Babel is the Tower of Babel. And once again, this will remind tourists visiting the New York open-air museum – all that remains of the famous American twin towers, the echo of the fall of which swept around the world …