View source for Riga Radio and TV Tower

{{Short description|Television tower in Riga, Latvia}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Riga Radio and TV Tower
| image = Fernsehturm Riga (cropped) (local copy).tif
| image_size = 
| caption = The Riga Radio and TV Tower viewed in 2012
| start_date = 1979
| completion_date = 1989
| building_type = Mixed-use
| location = [[Riga]], [[Latvia]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|56.9240|24.1370|region:LV-RIX|display=inline,title}}
| roof = {{Convert|222|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| top_floor = 
| antenna_spire = {{Convert|368.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| floor_count = 
| floor_area = 
| elevator_count = 4
| highest_region      = [[European Union]]
| highest_prev        = [[Fernsehturm Berlin]]
| highest_start       = 2004<ref>The tower itself has existed since 1989, but [[Latvia]] joined [[European Union]] in 2004.</ref>
| highest_end         = 
| highest_next        = 
| architect = {{Unbulleted list
 | Kims Nikuradze<ref name="TVT CD"/><ref name="JK"/>
 | Nikolajs Sergijevskis<ref name="JK"/>
 | Viktors Savčenko<ref name="JK"/>
 }}
| native_name = Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis
| native_name_lang = lv
}}
[[File:Riga tv tower from water level.jpg|thumb|Riga TV tower from boat level]]
The '''Riga Radio and TV Tower''' ({{langx|lv|Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis}}) 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 {{Convert|368.5|m|ft}},{{Ref|height|†}} which makes it the third tallest tower in [[Europe]] (after the [[Ostankino Tower]] at {{Convert|540|m|ft}} and the [[Kyiv TV Tower]] at {{Convert|385|m|ft}}) and the [[List of tallest towers in the world|15th tallest]] self-supporting tower in the world.

==Features==
[[File:Luftbild Riga.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Zaķusala and the Daugava]]
There was a restaurant, "Vēja roze" ("Wind Rose"), at the {{Convert|93|m|ft|adj=on}} level, which was open since the completion of the tower until 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lvrtc.lv/tv-towerrsquos-history.html|title=TV TOWER'S HISTORY|website=VAS LATVIJAS VALSTS RADIO UN TELEVĪZIJAS CENTRS|language=en|access-date=2019-05-27|archive-date=2020-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130170742/https://www.lvrtc.lv/tv-towerrsquos-history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is a public observation platform just above it at {{Convert|97|m|ft}}, from which most of the city and surroundings and the [[Gulf of Riga]] can be seen.<ref name="Emporis"/><ref name="TVT Exc">{{cite web |title=TV Tornis : Excursions |url=http://www.tvtornis.lv/tvtornis/tornis.php?m=pakalpojumi&s=ekskursijas&l=en |website=www.tvtornis.lv |access-date=13 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913214055/http://www.tvtornis.lv/tvtornis/tornis.php?m=pakalpojumi&s=ekskursijas&l=en |archive-date=13 September 2014 }}</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>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lvrtc.lv/tv-tower-20.html|title=TV TOWER 2.0|website=VAS LATVIJAS VALSTS RADIO UN TELEVĪZIJAS CENTRS|language=en|access-date=2019-05-27|archive-date=2019-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527122809/https://www.lvrtc.lv/tv-tower-20.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lvrtc.lv/tour-on-the-tv-tower.html|title=TOUR ON THE TV TOWER|website=VAS LATVIJAS VALSTS RADIO UN TELEVĪZIJAS CENTRS|language=en|access-date=2019-05-27|archive-date=2020-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201082940/https://www.lvrtc.lv/tour-on-the-tv-tower.html|url-status=dead}}</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 {{convert|500|kg|lb|adj=on}} [[Foucault pendulum]] will also be installed. The estimated costs are €40-50 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/television-tower-to-turn-into-major-tourist-attraction.a293739/|title=Television tower to turn into major tourist attraction|date=2018-09-26|website=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]]|language=en|access-date=2019-05-27}}</ref>

==Construction==
The design chosen for the tower was that of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]n architect Kims Nikurdze.<ref name="TVT CD"/> Also credited are Nikolajs Sergijevskis and Viktors Savčenko.<ref name="JK">{{cite book|last1=Strautmanis|first1=Jānis Krastiņš; Ivars|title=Lielais Rīgas arhitektūras ceļvedis|date=2002|publisher=Puse|location=Rīga|isbn=9789984527611|pages=286, 371, 372 |language=lv |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Eb8VAQAAIAAJ|access-date=13 September 2014}}</ref> Construction materials included [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] from [[Saaremaa]], [[Republic of Karelia|Karelia]]n 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">{{cite web |title=TV Tornis : Construction/design |url=http://www.tvtornis.lv/tvtornis/tornis.php?m=tornis&s=celtnieciba&l=en |website=www.tvtornis.lv |access-date=13 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210183732/http://www.tvtornis.lv/tvtornis/tornis.php?m=tornis&s=celtnieciba&l=en |archive-date=10 February 2012 }}</ref>

The tower is built on an island called [[Zaķusala]] (English: Hare Island) in the middle of the River [[Daugava River|Daugava]], and the base of the tower is located about {{Convert|7|m|ft}} [[above mean sea level]]. The tower is built to resist winds up to {{Convert|44|m/s|mph}} without any noticeable [[vibration]]{{Citation needed|date=September 2014|reason="Without any vibration" not in source (and dubious)}} with the help of three {{Convert|10|ST|MT|adj=on|disp=flip}} dampers installed at the {{Convert|198|m|ft|adj=on}} level.<ref name="Emporis"/> Though seismic activity is rare, the tower was designed to withstand a [[Richter magnitude scale|magnitude]] 7.5 earthquake.<ref name="Emporis">{{cite web|title=Riga TV Tower, Riga : Building 110997 : EMPORIS |url=http://www.emporis.com/building/rigatvtower-riga-latvia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914000136/http://www.emporis.com/building/rigatvtower-riga-latvia |url-status=usurped |archive-date=September 14, 2014 |website=[[Emporis]] |access-date=13 September 2014}}</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 {{Convert|88|m|ft}}, 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 [[Column|pillar]], that ascend the bottom section in just 42 seconds. The third pillar contains a staircase.<ref name="TVT Tech">{{cite web |title=TV Tornis : Technical information |url=http://www.tvtornis.lv/tvtornis/tornis.php?m=tornis&s=tehn_informacija&l=en |website=www.tvtornis.lv |access-date=13 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210183932/http://www.tvtornis.lv/tvtornis/tornis.php?m=tornis&s=tehn_informacija&l=en |archive-date=10 February 2012 }}</ref> It is one of only three "tall" towers in the world that has 3 pillars;{{Citation needed|date=September 2014|reason=Huh? Three-legged towers are common. What is this supposed to mean?}} the others are the [[Avala Tower]] in [[Belgrade]] and [[Žižkov Television Tower]] in [[Prague]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2014|reason=Huh? Three-legged towers are common. What is this supposed to mean?}}<!--TBD: Paint info from TVT Tech page -->

===Middle section===
The middle section, at {{Convert|88|-|222|m|ft}}, 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 {{Convert|222|-|368|m|ft}}, 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 {{Convert|308|m|ft|adj=on}} level, and stairs ascend another {{Convert|44|m|ft}}.<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">{{cite web|url=http://radiomap.eu/lv/riga|title=Radiostacijas Rīgā|website=radiomap.eu|access-date=13 May 2017}}</ref>

The following television channels are broadcast from the tower:<ref name="TVT Hist"/>
*[[LTV1|Latvian Television 1]]
*[[LTV7|Latvian Television 7]]
*[[TV3 Latvia|TV3]]
*[[RīgaTV 24]]
*[[DVB-T]] signal 

The following radio stations broadcast from the tower:<ref name="TVT Hist"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!Frequency
!Station
|-
|89.2
|Radio SWH Rock
|-
|90.0
|Radio SWH Gold
|-
|90.7
|[[Latvijas Radio|Latvijas Radio 1]]
|-
|91.5
|[[Latvijas Radio|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 ==
{{Note|height|†}}Sources vary slightly as to the exact height: The official website shows {{Convert|368|m|ft}};<ref name="TVT CD"/> Emporis claims the exact equivalent, {{Convert|1207.35|ft|m}};<ref name="Emporis"/> Structurae claims {{Convert|368.5|m|ft}}.<ref name="Structurae">{{cite web |title=Riga Television Tower (Riga, 1986) : Structurae |url=http://structurae.net/structures/riga-television-tower |website=structurae.net |access-date=14 September 2014}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.lvrtc.lv/tvtornis_2-0-2/ Project "TV tornis 2.0" at the website of the Latvian State Radio and Television Center <small>(in Latvian)</small>] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424065351/https://www.lvrtc.lv/tvtornis_2-0-2/ |date=2021-04-24 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050405012436/http://www.tvtornis.lv/ Former official homepage] in Latvian, English, Russian, German
* {{Structurae|id=20012026|title=Riga Television Tower}}

{{Riga Cityscape}}
{{Supertall}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riga Radio and TV Tower}}
[[Category:Towers completed in 1989]]
[[Category:Towers built in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Towers in Riga]]
[[Category:Radio masts and towers in Europe]]
[[Category:Observation towers]]
[[Category:Restaurant towers]]
[[Category:Telecommunications in Latvia]]