The 12th tallest member of the World Federation of Great Towers, Auckland’s Sky Tower is 328 metres tall (from ground level to the top of the mast), which makes it the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere¹.

Friend of Google Sightseeing, Nev, is currently doing a 29000 mile trip around the planet, and yesterday (or today, or possibly tomorrow depending on your time zone) decided to leap off this very tower. Twice.

He was able to achieve this death-defying feat thanks to a “fan descender free fall system” that controlled his descent over 192 metres! Here’s a picture of someone engaging in this utterly ridiculous pastime.

If you’re thinking this all sounds a bit familiar, then you may have read our 2005 post on the Macau Sky Tower, which was commissioned by billionaire Stanley Ho Hung-Sun after he saw the Auckland Sky Tower, and decided he wanted one for himself. A little bit taller, naturally.

You can read more about the Auckland Sky Tower at Wikipedia, or entertain yourself with posts about other members of the World Federation of Great Towers that we’ve featured in the past.

The Vilnius TV Tower is the tallest structure in its home country of Lithuania and yet another member of the famous World Federation of Great Towers to add to our collection.

At 326.5m tall, Vilnius TV Tower doesn’t break any records within the federation.

However, come December, the tower will transform itself into the tallest artificial Christmas tree in the world, a title which it has held each year since 2000.

As with all federation towers Vilnius features a observation deck, but this one is unique in that it also serves as the starting point for bungee jumps off the tower.

For locals the tower has now become a symbol for freedom and independence. In 1991 Soviet forces attempting to squash Lithuania’s claim to independence stormed the Vilnius TV Tower, which was being surrounded by unarmed civilians, killing 14 and injuring over 700.

More on Wikipedia and in your pocket.

Thanks to Adrian & Gediminas

The skyline of Shanghai’s Pudong district is dominated by two enormous structures: the 468 metre Oriental Pearl Tower and the 420.5 metre Jin Mao Building.

The striking looking Oriental Pearl Tower is the tallest tower in Asia, and the third tallest (self supporting) tower in the world (and naturally a member of the World Federation of Great Towers), lagging just behind the Ostankino and CN Tower.

As well as the usual astonishing statistics asssociated with these huge buildings, the Jin Mao Building is home to a hotel that breaks several world-records. The five-star, 555-room Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel which occupies floors 53 to 87 is the highest hotel in the world (in terms of distance from the ground), has the world’s highest swimming pool on floor 57, and right up on floor 87, the world’s highest bar, appropriately named ‘Cloud 9′.

It also has the world’s longest laundry chute, which runs down the full length of the tower to the basement (and incorporates buffers to slow down the laundry during its descent).

Wikipedia: Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Building, World Federation of Great Towers, List of World’s Tallest Self Supporting Towers.

Thanks: Haochi Chen, Julien G, Babaganoosh, Christopher O’Connell, Scott and Ben.

Another member of the World Federation of Great Towers is Blackpool Tower on the famous seaside Promenade. Obviously inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Blackpool’s version also features Britain’s highest post box and the ‘Walk of Faith’ glass floor, a two inch thick clear panel that looks straight down to the ground 158m below.

Just to the south is Coral Island, a pirate-themed amusement arcade with some Large Type on the roof to advertise to those visiting the Tower.

Thanks: Craig & Tom

The is the Macau Sky Tower which at 338 metres, is a very tall tower for such a little place. Macau is a bit of a gambling mecca, and this tower was built by local casino-billionaire Stanley Ho Hung-Sun after he saw the New Zealand Sky Tower, and decided he wanted one for himself.

The Macau Tower is also yet another member of the World Federation of Great Towers to add to the collection.

Thanks to Mark and Rob B.