Riga Radio and TV Tower
Encyclopedia
The Riga Radio and TV Tower in Riga
, Latvia
is the tallest structure in the Baltic countries
and in the European Union
. It was built between 1979 and 1986 by USSR. Its highest point reaches 368.5 m (1,209 ft), which makes it the third tallest tower in Europe
(after the Ostankino Tower
at 540 metres (1,772 ft) and the Kiev TV Tower
at 385 metres (1,263 ft)) and the 14th tallest tower in the world. There is an observation platform at the height of 97 m, from which most of the city can be seen (and in good weather, the Gulf of Riga
, and many of the city surroundings.)
The tower is built on an island called Zaķusala
in the middle of the River Daugava, and the base of the tower is located about 7 m above mean sea level
. The tower is said to be able to withstand extreme winds up to 44 m/s
(98 mph) without any noticeable vibration
.
There are two elevators, one in the north-east pillar and one in the south-west pillar
. The third pillar contains a staircase. Beside the Avala Tower in Belgrade
, Riga Radio and TV Tower is the only tower in the world that has 3 pillars.
The tower started broadcasting in 1986.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
is the tallest structure in the Baltic countries
Baltic countries
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
and in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. It was built between 1979 and 1986 by USSR. Its highest point reaches 368.5 m (1,209 ft), which makes it the third tallest tower in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(after the Ostankino Tower
Ostankino Tower
Ostankino Tower is a free-standing television and radio tower in Moscow, Russia. Standing tall, Ostankino was designed by Nikolai Nikitin. It is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, currently the tallest in Europe and 4th tallest in the world. The tower was the first free-standing...
at 540 metres (1,772 ft) and the Kiev TV Tower
Kiev TV Tower
The Kiev TV Tower is a 385-metre lattice steel tower built in 1973 in Kiev, Ukraine, for radio and television broadcasting. It is the tallest freestanding lattice steel construction in the world. The tower is not open to the public....
at 385 metres (1,263 ft)) and the 14th tallest tower in the world. There is an observation platform at the height of 97 m, from which most of the city can be seen (and in good weather, the Gulf of Riga
Gulf of Riga
The Gulf of Riga, or Bay of Riga, is a bay of the Baltic Sea between Latvia and Estonia. According to C.Michael Hogan, a saline stratification layer is found at a depth of approximately seventy metres....
, and many of the city surroundings.)
The tower is built on an island called Zaķusala
Zakusala
Zaķusala is one of several islands in the Daugava river in the central part of the city Riga, the capital of Latvia. Zaķusala is home to the Riga Radio and TV Tower, which was completed in 1986. The tower is the tallest structure in the Baltic states...
in the middle of the River Daugava, and the base of the tower is located about 7 m above mean sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
. The tower is said to be able to withstand extreme winds up to 44 m/s
Metre per second
Metre per second is an SI derived unit of both speed and velocity , defined by distance in metres divided by time in seconds....
(98 mph) without any noticeable vibration
Vibration
Vibration refers to mechanical oscillations about an equilibrium point. The oscillations may be periodic such as the motion of a pendulum or random such as the movement of a tire on a gravel road.Vibration is occasionally "desirable"...
.
There are two elevators, one in the north-east pillar and one in the south-west pillar
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
. The third pillar contains a staircase. Beside the Avala Tower in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Riga Radio and TV Tower is the only tower in the world that has 3 pillars.
The tower started broadcasting in 1986.
See also
- List of towers
- List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
- Riga LVRTC TransmitterRiga LVRTC TransmitterThe Riga LVRTC Transmitter was a mediumwave transmitter in Riga, Latvia, which broadcasted on 945 kHz a music program in DRM-simulcast mode, which was receivable at night time in wide parts of Europe. It used as an antenna two guyed mast radiators. One of them was a 125 metre tall guyed lattice...
External links
- Official homepage in Latvian, English, Russian, German