Tokyo Sky Tree opens as world’s tallest tower at 2080 feet (634 meters) tall
Associated Press
TOKYO — The world’s tallest tower and Tokyo’s biggest new landmark, the Tokyo Sky Tree, has opened to the public.
Nearly 8,000 visitors were expected to take high-speed elevators up to the observation decks of the 634-meter (2,080-foot) tower Tuesday to mark its opening.
It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest tower, beating out the Canton Tower in China, which is 600 meters (1,968 1/2 feet). The world’s tallest structure is Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which stands 828 meters (2,717 feet). That’s in a different category because it’s a skyscraper, not a tower.
The Sky Tree will serve as a broadcast tower for television and radio, along with being a tourist attraction.
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Tokyo Sky Tree
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A few other towers around the world
Canton Tower (formerly Guangzhou TV Astronomical and Sightseeing Tower)
Topping out of the tower was in 2009 and it became operational on September 29, 2010 for the 2010 Asian Games. Antenna spire 600 meters (1,968.5 ft)
CN Tower
The CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada is 553.33 meters (1,815.4 ft) tall. It was completed in 1976, becoming the world’s tallest free-standing structure and world’s tallest tower at the time. It held both records for 34 years until the completion of Burj Khalifa and Canton Tower in 2010 and Tokyo Skytree in 2012.
Stratosphere Las Vegas
Stratosphere Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Its tower is also the tallest observation tower, and the 9th-tallest freestanding structure, in the United States, as well as being the tallest structure in Las Vegas. It stands 1,149 ft (350 m) tall.
The Space Needle
The Space Needle in Seattle, Washington is located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World’s Fair. Antenna spire 605 ft (184.41 m)
Calgary Tower
The Calgary Tower (Husky Tower) is a 191 meter (626 feet) observation tower in Downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was conceived as a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil as part of an urban renewal plan and to celebrate Canada’s centennial of 1967.
Tower of the Americas
The Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot (229 meters) tower in San Antonio, Texas. The tower was was built as the theme structure of the 1968 World’s Fair, HemisFair ’68. The tower was the tallest observation tower in the United States from 1968 until 1996, when the Las Vegas Stratosphere Tower was completed.
Reunion Tower
Reunion Tower is a 561 ft (171 meters) observation tower and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Dallas, Texas. Reunion Tower was completed in 1978 as part of an urban redevelopment project.
Hillbrow Tower
The Hillbrow Tower in Johannesburg, South Africa stands 269 meters (883 ft) and has been the tallest structure and tower in Africa for 40 years, and it was also the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere until 1978, when surpassed by the 270m Mount Isa Chimney in Australia. Construction of the tower began in June 1968 and was completed three years later in April 1971. The tower was constructed for what became Telkom, South Africa’s largest telecommunications company.
Sky Tower
The Sky Tower in Auckland,New Zealand is 328 metres (1,076 ft) tall making it the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It was constructed in 1994.
Dilemma X 
May 23, 2012
International, World culture/events