A tower is a structure that stands out for its great height.
Towers are constructions that are characterized by their height . Unlike other buildings that extend along the surface, towers develop high up. That is why it is said that they take advantage of the airspace .
Throughout history different types of towers have been created. In ancient times, towers had a defensive function: they allowed a lookout to climb and control a wide area of territory with his eyesight . In this way, he could observe if an enemy was approaching.
From the tower, on the other hand, attacks that were difficult to repel could be launched. That is why castles and walled cities usually had several towers. Thus, when the guards observed that an enemy was stalking the area, attacks could be initiated. The towers, on the other hand, could also be used as prisons because it was difficult to access their upper part.
Different types of towers
Many religions decided to build towers for ritual or aesthetic purposes. Certain pyramids of the Latin American aboriginal populations and the pagodas of the Chinese towns are usually considered to be particular types of towers.
Towers can also have a function linked to technology . Electrical energy is distributed through towers and cables that cross large areas of territory. There are also clocks that are installed in towers so that they can be seen by the population.
Currently, all large cities have towers that serve as homes or workplaces. When towers reach a great height, they are known as skyscrapers . In these towers, which are divided into apartments or offices, hundreds of people can live or work.
The Eiffel Tower is the emblem of Paris.
The tallest structures
Among the tallest and most significant towers in history are some like these:
- Tokyo Skytree , located in Sumida ( Tokyo – Japan ), has a height of 634 meters and was built in 2012 .
- Canton Television Tower , located in the Haizhu district ( China ). It is 600 meters high and was built in 2010 .
- CN Tower . It is 553.33 meters high and is located in Toronto ( Canada ). Currently it is the highest in all of America.
- Ostankino Tower , which can be admired in Russia , specifically in Moscow . It is 540 meters high and is considered the highest in all of Europe. It was built in the 1960s .
- Eastern Pearl Tower . In the mid- 1990s, this other 468-meter-high tower was inaugurated, located in Shanghai ( China ).
emblematic towers
Although the above are among the tallest, there are other towers that have achieved worldwide popularity and fame:
- Eiffel Tower . It is the symbol of the French city of Paris , it was built in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel and has a height of 300 meters. It is the most visited monument in the world.
- Tower of Pisa . This other building is located in the Italian city that gives it its name, one of the best known in the country, which is about 55 meters high. It is a true Romanesque jewel and its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is inclined.