*Burj Khalifa (the tallest tower at the center)In January,2010 the skyscraper, called the Burj Khalifa is officially opened. The tower s more than 160 stories high, with 60-mile views from the top of the tower. At 2,717 feet, the structure stands more than 1,000 feet taller than the last tallest building, the Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
The Burj Khalifa was originally named the Burj Dubai, or Dubai Tower, after the region where it was built. Dubai is a sheikdom, or a region in the Middle East that is governed by a ruler called a sheik. It is part of the United Arab Emirates, a country made up of seven sheikdoms. Recently, Dubai needed a loan. Sheik Khalifa, President of the United Arab Emirates and sheik of neighboring Abu Dhabi, helped out. Burj Dubai was renamed Burj Khalifa in his honor.
But now the tower is getting down to business. The skyscraper has 37 floors of office space and 1,000 apartments. It will house the world’s largest mall. The owners hope that eventually more than 12,000 people will live and work in the 6 million square feet inside the building.
The towering structure has broken a number of records besides the record for height. It has the world’s highest swimming pool, on the 123rd floor. It also has the world’s highest outdoor observation deck: Visitors can stand in the open air 124 stories above ground.
Fifty-four elevators race up and down, going as fast as 40 miles an hour. Should the elevators stop working, 3,000 stairs go from top to bottom. And when it’s time to clean the windows, 36 workers will spend about three months washing them.
Reaching half a mile into the sky, the Burj Khalifa soars over even the world’s other highest skyscrapers. Its height outstrips the Taipei 101 by 60 stories. It stands more than 1,100 feet taller than China’s Shanghai World Financial Center. And Dubai’s new tower dwarfs one of the most famous skyscrapers of all: it stands more than twice as high as the Empire State Building in New York City, the world’s tallest building for more than 40 years.
Thank you to my friend, Wong whom brought back to me lots of beautiful Dubai postcards.
Happy PFF # 55
Happy PFF # 55
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19 comments:
That's really something! Kind of scary though.
It looks like a shark that has jumped straight up out of the ocean.
A fascinating, strange building. Bu I wouldn't like to live there. Thanks for sharing.
Something amazing...
Swimming on the 123rd floor? LOL. I might get air sick!
a surreal beauty. When I first looked at the pictures, I thought they were photoshopped. Didn't know the location was so close to water.
Great card. I'm not sure I'd want to ever visit the tallest building in the world -- I'd get altitude sickness! Happy PFF
I love the shot of the ultra modern skyscraper and the very natural water and camel scene in the foreground.
I'm not one for heights at all! It sure is a humongous skyscraper!
twice as high as the empire State! I just cannot imagine it.
Marvelous building and beautiful postcard! :)
I love the contrast between tradition and modern ways. Wonderful postcards! Happy PFF!
It looks surprisingly like the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth - apart from the size of course. :)
What an amazing building! A bit daunting...
I'm with postcardy. Can you imagine 12,000 people going down 3000 stairs in the event of a fire. Even with no fire, a person would die of exhaustion just going down them, let alone up (assuming the elevators were non-op).
I'm with postcardy. Can you imagine 12,000 people going down 3000 stairs in the event of a fire. Even with no fire, a person would die of exhaustion just going down them, let alone up (assuming the elevators were non-op).
Great postcards! I'm with the group that would be hesitant to go up in the buildings. I was at the top of the World Trade Center once, and that was so high it was amazing!
i live there!
my site have real image of the Building: http://asdfpostcrossing.blogspot.com/search/label/G1%20Burj%20Khalifa
this building can stand strong earth quakes, thought that area have almost no notable earth quakes.
the main site of the Burj:
http://www.burjkhalifa.ae
the burj downtown have a wounder full dancing fountain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6-jgoqC4FQ
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