Ostankino TV tower: observation deck, excursion, photo. Construction of the tower and its height

Ostankino TV tower is one of the most important architectural sights of Moscow and a symbol of Russian television. Thanks to this grandiose construction, it is possible to broadcast telecasts almost all over the country. On technical equipment, broadcast power and some other characteristics, the TV tower is unrivaled. In addition, it is considered the tallest building in Europe.

general characteristics

The area of the television tower in Ostankino is more than 15 thousand square meters. Meters. There is a whole complex of television studios, ring areas and balconies. The volume of the tower is about 70 thousand cubic meters. The building consists of 45 floors. The height of the Ostankino TV tower is 540 meters. It occupies the eighth place in the world for the height of free-standing buildings (the tallest building in the world at the moment is the Dubai skyscraper Burj Khalifa). The first name of the tower is the "All-Union Radio and Television Broadcasting Station named after the 50th Anniversary of October".

History of construction

Permanent broadcasting in the Soviet Union began in 1939. Initially, the signal was transmitted using equipment that was located in the Shukhov Tower (Shablovka). However, the increase in the volume and quality of broadcasting after World War II necessitated the construction of another TV tower. First it was built near the Shukhov television tower, but soon it was still necessary to build a more modern TV tower.

The "Mosproekt" organization was engaged in the development of the TV and radio station project in Ostankino. The construction of the Ostankino TV tower began in 1960. However, in a very short time it was stopped because of the uncertainty that the foundation of the structure was sufficiently reliably constructed. In the future, the design of the television tower was entrusted to the Central Research Institute for the Design of Sports Buildings and Spectacular Structures.

The tower project in Ostankino was coined by designer Nikitin in just one night. The prototype of the design, he chose an inverted lily - a flower with a thick stalk and strong petals. According to the original idea, the tower was supposed to have 4 supports, but later, on the recommendation of the German engineer Fritz Leonhard (creator of the first on the planet concrete TV tower), their number was raised to ten. The chief architect of the Ostankino TV tower, Leonid Ilich Batalov, also supported the idea of increasing the number of supports.

The final design of the structure was approved in 1963. Its authors were the architects Burdin and Batalov, as well as the designer Nikitin. The specialists decided to substantially complete the previous project, in particular, the number of equipment placed in the tower and its height was increased. The construction of the Ostankino TV tower was conducted from 1963 to 1967. In general, more than 40 various organizations took part in the construction of the television station. At that time, the Ostankino TV tower became the tallest building not only in Europe, but all over the world.

The beginning of the TV tower operation

The first broadcast of television programs from the Ostankino Tower was made in 1967. Despite the fact that this year the construction of the Ostankino Tower was completed and the building was officially commissioned, its completion was carried out for a year. As a result, the first broadcast of the color image took place already in 1968. In the tower was also created a 3-storey restaurant with the symbolic name "The Seventh Heaven". Most of the engineers who took part in the creation of this grand television center were awarded the Lenin Prize.

The value of the telecentre

Ostankino TV tower became a unique construction of that time, which has no analogues. In addition, that for a long time it remained the tallest building in the world, its technical characteristics were really impressive. After the construction of the tower was completed, approximately 10 million people lived in the area of the transmitters' operation, now the television center covers an area with a population of more than 15 million people.

The equipment of the station allowed simultaneous recording from several different objects and broadcasting. A special mission fell to the tower in Ostankino during the 1980 Olympics. Here, even placed a special equipment news channel CNN.

Meanwhile, the television tower had other functions, no less important. In its building there was a meteorological observatory, which was in charge of the main meteorological center of the Soviet Union. The Ostankino station also provided television and radio communication between the main state structures of the country.

Tourist attraction

Very soon the television center turned into one of the most popular tourist attractions of the capital. In 1982, a tower was built near the tower, which provided excursion. There was also equipped a modern meeting room for 800 people. The restaurant "The Seventh Heaven" was also improved. It should be noted that it is located at an altitude of 334 meters (which is approximately 112th floor of a residential building) and occupies as many as three floors. From its windows an amazing view of Moscow opens. The peculiarity of the institution is that it makes slow movements around its axis at a speed of one to three turns in 40-50 minutes. True, at the present time "The Seventh Heaven" is closed for reconstruction, the timing of its completion is still unknown.

Unique panoramic view

Meanwhile, most of the tourists are attracted by the observation platform of the Ostankino TV tower. In particular, there are four of them in the television center: open at an altitude of 337 meters and closed - 340 meters, as well as the two lower at 147 and 269 meters. They work only in the warm season - from May to October. Excursion group, as a rule, is limited to 70 visitors. There are 7 levels on the TV tower. The panoramic platform is located at the very last. To better see all the interesting objects in the vicinity of the television center, tourists can use telescopes and binoculars. In good weather, you can consider not only the capital, but also the near Moscow suburbs. It is worth noting that the floor on the viewing platform is absolutely transparent (made of durable glass), which uniquely stimulates the admission of an impressive dose of adrenaline in the blood of visitors. An excursion to the Ostankino TV tower is a truly spectacular and spectacular event. It is noteworthy that over 30 years of operation of the tower, more than 10,000,000 guests visited it.

Visiting rules

Since July 2013, excursions to the Ostankino Television Center have not been conducted temporarily in connection with the reconstruction works. But at the moment two observation platforms (337 and 340 meters) are again open for tourists! For information: only tourists from 7 to 70 years are allowed on the tour. Pregnant women in later periods also do not want to visit the tower. The tower's manual also prohibits climbing to the observation deck for people with visual impairments or in the event that a person moves on a wheelchair or crutches.

Telecenter construction

The observation platform of the Ostankino TV tower, undoubtedly, deserves special attention, but I would like to mention the construction of the tower separately. This, in fact, a huge elongated cone, whose walls are made of reinforced with monolithic concrete. The roof of the television center is supported by 149 ropes, which are attached to the wall of the tower. In the center of this cone there are shafts for cables, ladders, elevators and pipelines. By the way, in the construction there are seven elevators, of which four - high-speed. Apart from the foundation, the weight of the tower's structures is approximately 32,000 tons. The weight of the structure along with the foundation is 55 thousand tons. The useful area of the premises in the tower is 15,000 square meters. M. At the maximum design wind speed, the Ostankino TV tower (Moscow), or rather its peak (spire), theoretically can deviate by 12 meters.

Technical rooms from visitors are isolated, they have a hotel entrance. The hall, where all the main transmitters are located, is located on the fifth floor. On the floor above there are technical rooms. From the powerful electromagnetic radiation, personnel of the television center are protected by screens made of special materials.

Modern elevators

In the telecentre there are four high-speed elevators that can reach speeds of up to 7 m per second. The last one was launched in 2006. In particular, to the viewing platform, which is at an altitude of 337 meters, can be reached in 58 seconds.

Fire on the Ostankino TV tower

In 2000, the television tower experienced a severe fire, which took the lives of three people. After the disaster, Moscow and Moscow region for several days remained without television broadcasting. Initially, the fire occurred at an altitude of 460 meters. As a result of the disaster, three floors were completely burned. Because of the high temperature of the flame, several dozen cables, which provided pre-tension of concrete structures, burst, but, in spite of fears, the design still resisted. This was another indisputable proof that the architect of the Ostankino TV tower and all the other specialists who worked on the building project were real geniuses. Later all these cables were successfully restored.

As the firefighters note, it was very difficult to extinguish the ignition. In the process of eliminating the fire, the commander of the fire department, Vladimir Arsyukov, was killed. He decided to go up to the fire itself and instructed the lifter Svetlana Loseva to go to a height of 460 meters with him. As a result, they both died. Another dead was a locksmith Alexander Shipilin.

According to experts, overheating of networks has become the cause of the fire. However, the equipment was installed in the shortest possible time, the broadcasting was also resumed in the same volume. After the fire, we had to conduct large-scale construction and repair works to improve the territory and facilities where excursions were conducted. By February 2008, everything was restored and improved. The excursion to the Ostankino TV tower after the disaster was now held in compliance with special requirements: the number of participants in it should not exceed 40 people.

Sporting events

• Until 2000, the telecentre hosted a competition for the 337-meter-high runs.
• Since 2003, there have been organized base-jumping competitions. In the same year, a world record was set: 26 people jumped simultaneously from the building of the Ostankino TV tower.
• In 2004, at the base jumping festival, a misfortune happened: Austrian participant Christina Grubelnik somehow caught hold of the protruding parts of the TV tower and lost consciousness, and then hit hard on the concrete wall. As a result, at an altitude of 85 meters, she was hooked on the balcony with her feet. The employees of the television center, fortunately, managed to remove the extreme. The girl received several fractures, but remained alive.
• In 2004, a new record was fixed: 30 people jumped simultaneously from the television center.

Concert hall

In the building of the excursion building of Ostankino television center there is a concert hall "Royal". As part of the excursion program, this room is used as a cinema hall for showing films about the television tower and Russian television. In the "Royal" is also now a lot of concerts, conferences, presentations and other events.

Incredible monument of the era

The Ostankino TV Tower and all its equipment are constantly being improved. Due to the installation of several additional antennas now its height is more than 560 meters (note that according to the original idea its height was 520 meters). It is used in our time by the telecentre for its main purpose - for receiving and transmitting various radio signals and as a place for placing television studios of a large number of programs.

In addition, the Ostankino TV tower (photo of this building is admired) is the most important tourist attraction of the capital. The tour of the TV center is something truly unforgettable. Overview of Moscow and its environs from the observation deck will be remembered for life.

The television center in Ostankino is rightly considered a symbol of Russian television and one of the most delightful buildings on the planet.