Sky Tower, Television tower in Auckland, New Zealand
The Sky Tower is a television and observation tower in Auckland reaching 328 meters (1076 feet) high, featuring three viewing platforms that offer sightlines extending up to 80 kilometers (50 miles) across the city and its surroundings. The structure serves both as a broadcasting facility and a tourist destination, with a restaurant and café positioned at different heights within the tower.
Construction started in 1994 and required 15,000 cubic meters (530,000 cubic feet) of concrete along with 2,660 tons (5.9 million pounds) of steel before the tower opened in 1997. The project was designed as part of a larger urban development that aimed to reshape the waterfront district.
The name combines the English word for heaven with a term for a tall structure, and the spire lights up at night in changing colors that mark important celebrations or events across the country. Visitors often notice how the color scheme shifts with the season or current occasion, turning the structure into a widely visible signal for the city.
Four elevators carry visitors up to the different levels, with the ride taking about 40 seconds and the viewing platforms offering the clearest views on calm days. Those comfortable with heights can walk across the glass floor sections on one of the levels, while the restaurant rotates slowly to provide a full circle of views.
The structure features sections of 38-millimeter (1.5-inch) thick glass set into the floor of one platform, allowing a direct downward view from 186 meters (610 feet) above ground. These transparent panels challenge many visitors because they reveal an unobstructed view of the ground far below.
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