| Riga Radio and TV Tower | |
| Start Date: | 1979 |
| Completion Date: | 1989 |
| Building Type: | Mixed-use |
| Location: | Riga, Latvia |
| Roof: | 222m (728feet) |
| Antenna Spire: | 368.5m (1,209feet) |
| Elevator Count: | 4 |
| Highest Region: | European Union |
| Highest Prev: | Fernsehturm Berlin |
| Highest Start: | 2004[1] |
| Native Name: | Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis |
| Native Name Lang: | lv |
The Riga Radio and TV Tower (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 368.5m (1,209feet), which makes it the third tallest tower in Europe (after the Ostankino Tower at 540m (1,770feet) and the Kyiv TV Tower at 385m (1,263feet)) and the 15th tallest self-supporting tower in the world.
There was a restaurant, "Vēja roze" ("Wind Rose"), at the 93m (305feet) level, which was open since the completion of the tower until 2006.[2] There is a public observation platform just above it at 97m (318feet), from which most of the city and surroundings and the Gulf of Riga can be seen.[3]
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.[4] [5] 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 500 kg Foucault pendulum will also be installed. The estimated costs are €40-50 million.[6]
The design chosen for the tower was that of Georgian architect Kims Nikurdze. Also credited are Nikolajs Sergijevskis and Viktors Savčenko.[7] 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.[8]
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 7m (23feet) above mean sea level. The tower is built to resist winds up to 44m/s without any noticeable vibration with the help of three 10adj=onNaNadj=on dampers installed at the 198m (650feet) level. Though seismic activity is rare, the tower was designed to withstand a magnitude 7.5 earthquake.[9] The projected service life of the tower is 250 years.[8]
The support section of the tower rises the first 88m (289feet), 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.[10] It is one of only three "tall" towers in the world that has 3 pillars; the others are the Avala Tower in Belgrade and Žižkov Television Tower in Prague.
The middle section, at 88m-222mm (289feet-728feetm), contains equipment and a central elevator and is enclosed by panels of COR-TEN, an aluminum-iron alloy.[10]
The top section, at 222m-368mm (728feet-1,207feetm), 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 308m (1,010feet) level, and stairs ascend another 44m (144feet).[9] [10]
The tower started broadcasting regularly in January 1986, though construction work continued until 1989.[11]
The following television channels are broadcast from the tower:[11]
The following radio stations broadcast from the tower:[11]
| Frequency | Station | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 103.7 | Latvijas Radio 3 - Klasika | |
| 104.3 | European Hit Radio | |
| 105.2 | Radio SWH | |
| 105.7 | Radio SWH+ | |
| 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.[11]
Sources vary slightly as to the exact height: The official website shows 368m (1,207feet);[8] Emporis claims the exact equivalent, 1207.35feet;[9] Structurae claims 368.5m (1,209feet).[12]