This list includes extant structures that fulfill the engineering definition of a tower: "a tall human structure, always taller than it is wide, for public or regular operational access by humans, but not for living in or office work, and which is self-supporting or free-standing, meaning no guy-wires for support."[1][2][3] This definition excludes continuously habitable buildings and skyscrapers as well as radio and TV masts. Also excluded, because they are not designed for public or regular operational access, are bridge towers or pylons, wind turbines, chimneys, transmission towers, sculptures and most large statues and obelisks.
Towers are most often built to use their height for various purposes, and can stand alone or as part of a larger structure. Some common purposes are for telecommunications, and as a viewing platform.
The Tokyo Skytree, completed in 2012, is 634 m (2,080 ft), making it the tallest tower in the world.
- ^ ctbuh. "CTBUH Criteria for Defining and Measuring Tall Buildings". www.ctbuh.org. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ Gerometta, Marshall. "Height: The History of Measuring Tall Buildings". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. CTBUH. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ "World's Tallest Tower Rises in Tokyo". 29 November 2011. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2018.