Riga Radio and TV Tower
Template:Short description Template:Infobox building
The Riga Radio and TV Tower (Template:Langx) in Riga, Latvia is the tallest tower in the European Union. It was built between 1979 and 1989 with funding from the central government of the Soviet Union. Its highest point reaches Template:Convert,Template:Ref which makes it the third tallest tower in Europe (after the Ostankino Tower at Template:Convert and the Kyiv TV Tower at Template:Convert) and the 15th tallest self-supporting tower in the world.
Features
There was a restaurant, "Vēja roze" ("Wind Rose"), at the Template:Convert level, which was open since the completion of the tower until 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> There is a public observation platform just above it at Template:Convert, from which most of the city and surroundings and the Gulf of Riga can be seen.<ref name="Emporis"/><ref name="TVT Exc">Template:Cite web</ref>
Renovation
Since May 2019, the tower has closed to visitors for about five years for the renovation and expansion of the visitors' area and the adjacent territory under the "TV Tower 2.0" project.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is planned to re-open in 2024 when there will again be a restaurant and the tower's bomb shelter will open to the public. A Template:Convert Foucault pendulum will also be installed. The estimated costs are €40-50 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Construction
The design chosen for the tower was that of Georgian architect Kims Nikurdze.<ref name="TVT CD"/> Also credited are Nikolajs Sergijevskis and Viktors Savčenko.<ref name="JK">Template:Cite book</ref> Construction materials included dolomite from Saaremaa, Karelian granite, and ironwork that had been prefabricated in Chelyabinsk. The assembly was done by the St Petersburg North-western Ironwork Assembly Trust.<ref name="TVT CD">Template:Cite web</ref>
The tower is built on an island called Zaķusala (English: Hare Island) in the middle of the River Daugava, and the base of the tower is located about Template:Convert above mean sea level. The tower is built to resist winds up to Template:Convert without any noticeable vibrationTemplate:Citation needed with the help of three Template:Convert dampers installed at the Template:Convert level.<ref name="Emporis"/> Though seismic activity is rare, the tower was designed to withstand a magnitude 7.5 earthquake.<ref name="Emporis">Template:Cite web</ref> The projected service life of the tower is 250 years.<ref name="TVT CD"/>
Bottom section
The support section of the tower rises the first Template:Convert, comprising the three pillars that give the tower its unusual appearance, and a central building that contains offices and machine rooms. There are two high-speed sloping elevators, one in the north-east pillar and one in the south-west pillar, that ascend the bottom section in just 42 seconds. The third pillar contains a staircase.<ref name="TVT Tech">Template:Cite web</ref> It is one of only three "tall" towers in the world that has 3 pillars;Template:Citation needed the others are the Avala Tower in Belgrade and Žižkov Television Tower in Prague.Template:Citation needed
Middle section
The middle section, at Template:Convert, contains equipment and a central elevator and is enclosed by panels of COR-TEN, an aluminum-iron alloy.<ref name="TVT Tech"/>
Top section
The top section, at Template:Convert, is a cylindrical structure which supports and contains the various antennas, and is topped by a flagpole. An elevator rises to the machine rooms at the Template:Convert level, and stairs ascend another Template:Convert.<ref name="Emporis"/><ref name="TVT Tech"/>
Operations
The tower started broadcasting regularly in January 1986, though construction work continued until 1989.<ref name="TVT Hist">Template:Cite web</ref>
The following television channels are broadcast from the tower:<ref name="TVT Hist"/>
The following radio stations broadcast from the tower:<ref name="TVT Hist"/>
| Frequency | Station |
|---|---|
| 89.2 | Radio SWH Rock |
| 90.0 | Radio SWH Gold |
| 90.7 | Latvijas Radio 1 |
| 91.5 | Latvijas Radio 2 |
| 94.5 | Retro FM |
| 95.8 | Latvijas Radio 6 - Naba |
| 101.8 | Latvijas Kristīgais Radio |
| 102.3 | Radio Skonto + |
| 102.7 | Radio MIX FM |
| 103.7 | Latvijas Radio 3 - Klasika |
| 104.3 | European Hit Radio |
| 105.2 | Radio SWH |
| 105.7 | Radio SWH+ |
| 106.2 | Radio Star FM |
| 106.8 | Radio TEV |
| 107.2 | Radio Skonto |
| 107.7 | Latvijas Radio 4 - Doma laukums |
Additionally, broadcast and two-way communications services are provided for various organizations and government agencies.<ref name="TVT Hist"/>
See also
- List of tallest towers in the world
- List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
- List of tallest freestanding steel structures
- Riga LVRTC Transmitter
Notes
Template:NoteSources vary slightly as to the exact height: The official website shows Template:Convert;<ref name="TVT CD"/> Emporis claims the exact equivalent, Template:Convert;<ref name="Emporis"/> Structurae claims Template:Convert.<ref name="Structurae">Template:Cite web</ref>