Paul Stasi
Record-breaking buildings, towers and other sights
For many of us, the Guinness Book of World Records was a fond childhood companion, a source of amusement as we leafed through the familiar images of Robert Waldow – the world’s tallest man at 8 feet 11 inches – or Robert Earl Hughes, a man so large, weighing at his heaviest 1,069 pounds, it was reported (falsely) that he had to be buried in a packing case made for a grand piano. And then we moved on.
Not so Malaysia, a country obsessed with world records. Malaysians currently hold the record for most days spent inside a box with scorpions and the longest pizza in the world. One record they no longer hold, however, is for the world’s tallest building. This has not always been the case. In 1998 the 1,483-foot-tall Petronas Twin Towers were completed to great acclaim. Their reign, alas, was fated to be brief, for in 2004 Taiwan built the Tapei 101 tower, which rises to 1,671 feet. And yet Taiwan too has little time to gloat. The Burj Dubai Tower is scheduled for completion in 2009, and its height—a closely guarded secret—is rumored to be over 2,200 feet. It seems exceedingly difficult to hold onto the title of world’s tallest building...
Record-breaking buildings, towers and other sights
For many of us, the Guinness Book of World Records was a fond childhood companion, a source of amusement as we leafed through the familiar images of Robert Waldow – the world’s tallest man at 8 feet 11 inches – or Robert Earl Hughes, a man so large, weighing at his heaviest 1,069 pounds, it was reported (falsely) that he had to be buried in a packing case made for a grand piano. And then we moved on.
Not so Malaysia, a country obsessed with world records. Malaysians currently hold the record for most days spent inside a box with scorpions and the longest pizza in the world. One record they no longer hold, however, is for the world’s tallest building. This has not always been the case. In 1998 the 1,483-foot-tall Petronas Twin Towers were completed to great acclaim. Their reign, alas, was fated to be brief, for in 2004 Taiwan built the Tapei 101 tower, which rises to 1,671 feet. And yet Taiwan too has little time to gloat. The Burj Dubai Tower is scheduled for completion in 2009, and its height—a closely guarded secret—is rumored to be over 2,200 feet. It seems exceedingly difficult to hold onto the title of world’s tallest building...
Paul Stasi
Record-breaking buildings, towers and other sights
For many of us, the Guinness Book of World Records was a fond childhood companion, a sour... more
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1
The World’s Tallest Restaurant
Toronto, Canada
It may not be in the world’s tallest building, but the 360 Restaurant, towering 1,151 feet above the city of Toronto in the CN Tower, is home to the world’s tallest Wine Cellar, which resembles a typical underground wine cellar except for the fact that it is in the sky. A list of over 500 international and Canadian wines—kept cool by a 2.5 ton state-of-the art climate controlling system—complements an award-winning menu drawing heavily on regional ingredients.
2
The World’s Tallest Flagpole
Aqaba, Jordan
Standing at 430 feet high, the Aqaba Flagpole in Aqaba, Jordan, is the clear winner in this low-participant category. Carrying the flag of the Arabian Revolution, this flagpole stands right at the edge of the Gulf of Aqaba in this coastal town, and commemorates the Arabian revolt against the Ottoman Empire.
3
The World’s Largest Snow Castle
Kauppakatu, Finland
The most unusual item on our list is the LumiLinna snow castle and it is just what its name suggests: a huge castle constructed entirely out of snow. Located in Kauppakatu, Finland, the castle is rebuilt every year—after melting in April—in a process that takes two months. Temperatures in the castle’s 20 guest rooms average 23 degrees Fahrenheit, but the hotel provides sleeping bags that not only “guarantee the survival” of its guests, but also promise a comfortable night’s sleep.
4
The World’s Tallest Church
Ulm, Germany
Located in Ulm, Germany, this Lutheran Church measures 530 feet and contains 768 steps leading visitors to spectacular panoramic views of both the surrounding countryside and, in the right weather, the Alps. The church is also one of Europe’s finest surviving examples of Gothic ecclesiastical architecture.
5
The World’s Tallest 90° Twisted Building
Malmo, Sweden
Designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and completed in 2005, the Turning Torso in Malmo, Sweden, stands at 623 feet, easily beating out Frank Gehry’s Dancing House (in Prague) and the Marina Mandarin Hotel in Singapore.
6
The World’s Largest Dam
Vakhsh River, Tajikistan
Construction began on the Nurek Dam (984 feet) in 1961 while the central Asian nation of Tajikistan was still a republic within the Soviet Union, and was completed an efficient nineteen years later. The dam provides 98% of Tajikistan’s electrical needs and is uniquely constructed, with a central core of cement forming an impermeable barrier along the Vakhsh River.
7
The World’s Largest Man-Made Islands
Dubai, U.A.E.
Perhaps no structure on this list more embodies the original impulse behind the tall building—pure human hubris—than Dubai’s Palm Islands. Composed of three separate islands, Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira, the entire construction will add nearly 330 miles of beach front to the city of Dubai. Parts of Palm Jumeirah are currently open for development, with the remaining islands to be completed in the next 10-15 years. When finished, the three islands will contain over 100 luxury hotels while Palm Deira itself will be almost as large as Paris.
8
The World’s Tallest Hotel Not in Dubai
Bangkok, Thailand
Though eclipsed both by Dubai’s Rose Tower and Jemeirah Emirates Tower, the Baiyoke Tower II in Bangkok, Thailand, nevertheless boasts 85 floors and 673 guest rooms. The Tower is located in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district known for its shopping and its l.5 mile long artificial lake.
9
The World’s Tallest Hotel That Has Not Actually Been Completed
Pyongyang, North Korea
Destined, for greatness, the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea stands at 1,083 feet, boasts of 105 floors and 3.9 million square feet of floor space and was meant to have seven revolving restaurants. Not surprisingly this towering pyramid’s construction was put on hold in 1992 when North Korea confronted more pressing matters. What remains is the pyramid itself, but it lacks windows and fixtures and has been deemed unsafe for human occupancy.
10
The World’s Tallest Memorial
Greater Madrid, Spain
Erected in 1940 by the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, the Benedictine Abbey of the Valley of the Fallen boasts the largest Memorial Cross in the world. Located 28 miles northwest of Madrid, the sight contains a basilica and crypt carved out of a granite ridge, and boasts spectacular views of both the surrounding valley and the outskirts of Madrid.
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