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Tallest buildings in the world: Dizzying stats and facts – Metro US

Tallest buildings in the world: Dizzying stats and facts

All eyes are on the sky this Aug. 10, Skyscraper Appreciation Day, the birthday of architect William Van Alen who designed the ChryslerBuilding in New York. To mark the occasion, Metro has rounded up these stats and facts for some of the tallest buildings in the world:

BurjKhalifa is the world’s tallest building, measuring an impressive 2716 feet high. The tower is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the city that is home to the most skyscrapers.

Shanghai Tower comes up second in the rankingsmeasuring a boasting 2073 feet high, located in Shanghai, China.

MakkahRoyal Clock Tower overlooks Mecca, Saudi Arabia at1971 feet, not too much shorter than the Shanghai Tower.

At 1,776 feet high, One World Trade Center is the fourth tallest building in the world, located in New York City.

Taipei 101 at a heightof 1,666 feet is the tallestand largest greenbuilding in the world.Taipei 101’s elevators – traveling at 37 mph – are the fastest in the world.

The Empire State Building, with 102 floors, was the first building in history to have over 100 floors.

The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are the world’s tallest twin buildings with heights of 1482 feet.

Four cities in the world have more than five buildings exceeding 984 feet (supertall skyscrapers). The cities are Dubai, Hong Kong, Chicago and New York City.

12 buildings currently measure over 1,312 feet.

The word skyscraper derives from a nautical term that refers to a small triangular sail placed above the skysail on a sailing boat.

Moscow is the Europeancity with themost skyscrapers.

The Home Insurance Building in Chicago is considered the first skyscraper. It was built in 1884.

—Daniel Casillas