World's tallest tower, the Tokyo Sky Tree, opens

TOKYO: The world’s tallest tower and Tokyo’s biggest new landmark, the Tokyo Sky Tree, has opened to the public.

Nearly 8,000 visitors were expected to take high-speed elevators up to the observation decks of the 634-meter (2,080-foot) tower on Tuesday to mark its opening.

It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the tallest tower, beating out the Canton Tower in China, which is 600 meters (1,968 1/2 feet). The world’s tallest structure is Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, which stands 828 meters (2,717 feet). That’s in a different category because it’s a skyscraper, not a tower.

The Sky Tree will serve as a broadcast tower for television and radio, along with being a tourist attraction.