Cordova Tower, Observation tower at Lake Red Rock, Iowa, US.
Cordova Tower is a standalone observation structure rising approximately 106 feet above the landscape near Red Rock Lake with 169 fiberglass steps inside. From the top platform, the vista stretches across the Des Moines River Valley and the surrounding communities below.
The structure was originally built in 1972 as a water storage facility holding approximately 130,000 gallons before its purpose changed. In 1984, the Marion County Conservation Board transformed it into a public observation tower for visitors.
The tower commemorates the submerged town of Cordova, which disappeared beneath the lake's waters after the dam was built. Visitors feel this connection to the past as they climb and look out over the landscape where a community once stood.
Visitors can combine their climb with nearby hiking trails in the adjacent park and take breaks while exploring the surrounding grounds. The site is easily accessible with parking available and offers multiple vantage points along the ascent.
This structure contains the world's longest continuous fiberglass staircase, a technical achievement that is not immediately obvious as you climb inside. The fact that this engineering feat was accomplished through the repurposing of an industrial water tank makes it even more remarkable.
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