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12 Odd and Unusual Towers From Around the World

Towers have captivated the human mind for thousands of years; from the biblical Tower of Babylon, through the Tower of Pisa, and on to the modern-day Burj Khalifa. These tall buildings dwarf us while still letting us marvel at the spectacular work we do when we work together. Some towers, however, are more unusual than others.

1. Cheminée Moretti, Paris, France

This tower is the work of French artist Raymond Moretti and is 32 meters tall (104ft).

Unusual Towers  Cheminée Moretti, Paris, France
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The Cheminée Moretti is a system of 672 pipes with varying diameters, painted in 19 different colors. The tower weighs 27.5 tons, and if all the pipes were laid front to back, they would measure 22 kilometers (13.6 miles).

Unusual Towers Cheminée Moretti, Paris, France
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2. Guinigi Tower, Lucca, Italy

The Italian city of Lucca is well-known for its medieval architecture, including a fully intact city wall, yet the most notable building there, is the Torre Guinigi, which towers over the city.

Unusual Towers Guinigi Tower, Lucca, Italy
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At a striking 44.5 meters (146ft), the tower hides a surprise on its roof – a garden that includes several oak trees.

Unusual Towers Guinigi Tower, Lucca, Italy
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Built in the 14th-century, it was only one amongst over 250 other towers in the city. These days, the number of towers in the city is much lower, and the Torre Guinigi is still the most impressive.

Unusual Towers Guinigi Tower, Lucca, Italy
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3. Sathorn Unique, Bangkok, Thailand

This 49-floor giant stands in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Originally built as a luxury apartment condominium during the economic boom the region experienced in the 1990’s.

Unusual Towers Sathorn Unique, Bangkok, Thailand
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Construction was halted in 1997 following the Asian financial crisis, with the building being about 80% complete, due to lack of funds. These days, the building stands abandoned, and the locals claim that it is haunted.

Unusual Towers Sathorn Unique, Bangkok, Thailand
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4. Tower of Wind, Tokyo, Japan

Located in the ocean close to Tokyo’s airport, the Tower of the Wind (Japanese: Kaze no to) and is actually a ventilation shaft for Tokyo Bay Aqualine.

Unusual Towers Tower of Wind, Tokyo, Japan
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This beautiful building is shaped to look like the sails of a ship from a distance. It took 31 years to build the tower, costing $11.2 billion. It is the midway point for the undersea tunnel that connects Yokohama and Chiba under the Tokyo Bay.

Unusual Towers
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5. Montreal Tower, Canada

The tallest inclined tower in the world, Canada’s Montreal Tower is part of the Olympic Stadium and rises to a height of 175 meters (546ft).

Unusual Towers Montreal Tower, Canada
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The top of the tower provides visitors with breathtaking panoramic views of the greater Montreal region.

Unusual Towers Montreal Tower, Canada
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The tower’s tilt is at a 45° angle, which is very impressive considering that the famous Leaning  Tower of Pisa only has a 5° angle.

Unusual Towers Montreal Tower, Canada
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6. Ciechanów Tower, Poland

This odd structure was built in 1972 and was meant to serve as a restaurant and an observatory. Sadly, the project was abandoned and the tower now remains a silent, lonely witness.

Unusual Towers Ciechanów Tower, Poland
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The tower is a hyperboloid, using its geometry to achieve maximum structural strength while using the minimum required materials.

Unusual Towers Ciechanów Tower, Poland
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7. Kalyazin Bell Tower, Russia

Measuring 74.5 meters (244ft) tall, the Kalyazin Bell Tower stands on a tiny island in the Volga River and was the belfry of the St. Nicholas Monastery in the late 18th-century.

Unusual Towers Kalyazin Bell Tower, Russia
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In 1939, Stalin ordered the construction of the Uglich Reservoir, which resulted in the flooding of the old town of Kalyazin. The tower is the only remnant of the old town and has become somewhat of a tourist attraction.

Unusual Towers Kalyazin Bell Tower, Russia
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8. The Leaning Tower of Yekaterinburg, Russia

Originally built as a TV broadcasting tower, the Yekaterinburg Tower was never completed due to engineering mistakes. It now measures 220 meters (720ft), though the original plans were for a 400 meters (1,310ft) tall tower.

Unusual Towers The Leaning Tower of Yekaterinburg, Russia
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Since the construction was halt midway, the planned elevator was never installed, forcing visitors who wish to reach the top take the stairs.

Unusual Towers The Leaning Tower of Yekaterinburg, Russia
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One of the major results of the engineering mistakes during construction gave the tower a slight lean. Since then, the tower has become quite a monument for the city.

Unusual Towers
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9. Shime Tower, Fukuoka, Japan

This 47 meter (156ft) monstrosity used to be a coal mine between 1941-1964. It was constructed during WWII to increase the production of coal for the Japanese Imperial Army.

Unusual Towers Shime Tower, Fukuoka, Japan
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The building stands over the mine’s shaft, going down 430 meters (1,411ft) and rumor has it that during the war, the mine used Allied POWs as miners.

Unusual Towers Shime Tower, Fukuoka, Japan
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10. PL Peace Tower, Osaka, Japan

This unusual tower stands at 183 meters (600ft) and is the headquarters of the Church of Perfect Liberty, as well as a monument for all those who perished in wars throughout history.

Unusual Towers PL Peace Tower, Osaka, Japan
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On June 6 of every year, the tower is the site of the world’s largest fireworks display. The show features five times as many fireworks as the average show, with a huge culmination that lights up the entire sky above the city.

Unusual Towers PL Peace Tower, Osaka, Japan
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11. Ivy Тower, Bruges, Belgium

The Gruuthuse Tower (more commonly known as the Ivy Tower) is part of the Gruuthuse Museum, dating back to the 15th-century.

Unusual Towers Ivy Тower, Bruges, Belgium
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During the autumn, the ivy covering the tower slowly turns from green to shades of yellow, orange, red, and brown. The sight is stunning, drawing thousands of tourists to the city during that time.

Unusual Towers  Ivy Тower, Bruges, Belgium
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12. The Pirate Tower, Laguna Beach, U.S.A.

Despite its medieval look, this tower was built in 1926 as a private staircase to Laguna Beach. These days, the tower is closed due to safety concerns.

Unusual Towers The Pirate Tower, Laguna Beach, U.S.A.
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The unusual shape and location make this tower into quite a sight, and on windy days, one can hear the wind howling through the small windows.

Unusual Towers The Pirate Tower, Laguna Beach, U.S.A.
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H/T: theworldgeography.com
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