Ostankino Tower, Television tower in Moscow, Russia
Ostankino Tower is a television and radio tower in Ostankinsky District that ranks among the tallest freestanding structures in the world at 540 meters. The reinforced concrete structure rests on ten supports arranged like petals and carries two observation platforms along with antennas for broadcasting operations.
Construction began in 1960, and the first concrete blocks were laid on 27 September 1960. Work was halted in 1961 over doubts about the shallow foundation, and the final project was approved on 22 March 1963, with the height raised from 505 to 540 metres. The tower was built to mark the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution and was the first free-standing structure to exceed 500 metres.
The name comes from the historic Ostankino village, now part of the district bearing the same name. Visitors can experience the tower as a symbol of Russian broadcasting technology, still actively transmitting signals to millions of households.
The two observation levels sit at different heights, with the lower one accessible year-round and the upper one opening when weather permits. Visitors should bring identification and can purchase tickets on site for the different levels.
The tower's shallow foundation reaches only 4.6 metres underground, and its shifted centre of gravity lets the structure sway in strong winds like a roly-poly toy; the spire deflected about 12 metres during construction. Inside, 149 to 150 steel cables, coated in gun oil against corrosion, hold the concrete frame together.
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