Bridge Tower
The tower was designed by architects Uglješa Bogdanović and Slobodan Janjić, and engineer Milan Krstić. Construction started on 14 October 1961 and was completed four years later in 1965. The tower weighed 4,000 tonnes (3,900 long tons; 4,400 short tons). Between 102 m (335 ft) and 135 m (443 ft), there was an enclosed observation deck. It was the only tower in the world to have an equilateral triangle as its cross section, and one of very few towers not perched directly into the ground, but standing on its legs. The legs formed a tripod, the symbol of Serbian tripod chair. It is one of the small number of towers to be constructed in that manner. The tower was surmounted by an antenna, which was at first used for black and white television transmission. In 1971 the antenna was replaced by a new one for color TV transmission. From the height of 102 metres to a 135 metres there was an all glass area to which visitors could come via two quick lifts. The project, which was of high risk, was finished without any worker injuries or deaths, which was unusual for a project of its size. After completion, with the m (666 ft) height it was the fifth tallest self-supporting construction in the world, after Empire State Building, La Tour Eiffel, Chrysler Building and Grande Dixence Dam. The Avala Tower was destroyed on 29 April 1999 by NATO bombardment. Previously the power supply had been destroyed, but a senior military officer installed an alternative generator. It is reasoned[original research?] that the tower would not have been brought down if transmissions using the tower had not been resumed. The intent was to put Radio Television Serbia off the air; however the effect was not strong as Radio Television Serbia was relying on a network of local TV stations which were obliged to relay its programming throughout the whole of Serbia. The Avala Tower was a symbol of pride and a famous landmark, not only of Belgrade and Serbia, but of the former Yugoslavia too.
Size: 2857px × 4000px
Location: Avala, Belgrade, Serbia
Photo credit: © Aleksandar Grujic / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: avala, belgrade, bombing symbol, located, mountain, periphery, pride, telecommunication, tower, tower avala, tower nato, tower simbol
