Kiev TV Tower

The Kiev TV Tower , is a 385 meter high (1,263 feet) lattice steel tower built in 1973 in Kiev, Ukraine for radio and television broadcasting. It is the tallest free standing lattice steel construction in the world. The tower is not open to the public.

Construction of the tower began in 1968 and finished in 1973. The entire structure weighs 2700 metric tons. It is made entirely of steel pipe of various diameters and thicknesses. It has a four legged base on which the central cylindrical core sits. The central pipe, or core, (where the elevator is located) is 4 meters in diameter and made of pipe that is 12 mm thick. The four legged base is approximately 100 meters tall. Atop the base is an enclosed level which houses microwave transmitting and receiving equipment. At about 200 meters is a second enclosed level that houses television and FM transmitters, as well as a control and maintenance shop. This second level is the elevator's terminus.

The tower is unique in that no mechanical fasteners are used in the structure. Every joint, pipe and fixture is attached by welding.

The project of the tower was first designed for Moscow, at the time, the Soviet capital. However, Moscow authorities preferred a more "solid" type of tower which was eventually built (see Ostankino Tower.) Later, when Kiev needed its own tower, the forgotten project was reintroduced. However, the Soviet government ordered the engineers to shorten the tower, so as not to be as tall as the Moscow one. It was shortened by 30 meters.