Torreta de Guardamar

Torreta de Guardamar
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeMast radiator insulated against ground
LocationGuardamar, Spain
Coordinates38°4′18″N 0°39′52″W / 38.07167°N 0.66444°W / 38.07167; -0.66444
Completed1962
Height380 m (1,246.72 ft)
Design and construction
Main contractorSpanish Navy

Torreta de Guardamar[1] (Valencian: [toˈreta ðe ˌɣwaɾðaˈmaɾ], Spanish: [toˈreta ðe ˌɣwaɾðaˈmaɾ]) or Torre de los Americanos[2] is a 380-metre tall[a][2][7] guyed radio mast erected by the US Navy near Guardamar del Segura, Spain. It was built in 1962 and is the tallest architectural structure in both the Iberian Peninsula and the European Union, and the tallest military structure in Europe.[2][7] Its base is situated 64 metres above sea level at a distance of 1.4 km from the sea.

Details

Torreta de Guardamar is a mast radiator insulated from earth, and is used to transmit orders to submerged submarines. It is made as a lattice structure with triangular cross section. In spite of its enormous height, it is low in relation to the wavelength of the waves it transmits. Its capacity is augmented by multiple cables connected to its top and running to anchors around the mast. These cables are electrically connected to the mast and are divided at a certain distance by insulators.

The transmitter using Torreta de Guardamar as antenna had been, since its inauguration, remotely controlled by the US Naval Communication Station in Rota. Then it was transferred to the Spanish Navy, and is used for transmitting orders to submerged submarines stationed in Cartagena during their operations. As opposed to other VLF transmitters such as the DHO38 in Rhauderfehn, it has no fixed frequency allocation by ITU and carries no callsign.

This installation is currently guarded by Spanish Marine Infantry, and is marked as "Radio Estación Naval - Antena LF 380 metros - Guardamar", with the facilities being listed officially as "Estación Radio de Guardamar del Segura".[8]

Notes

  1. ^ 380 metres is the number stated in the sign at the entrance erected by the Spanish Navy, and is also cited in an article by a local newspaper albeit with contradicitons, but the Spanish civil aviation authority, in its description as an obstacle for aviation with the designation '15-7591 D15-094-FFSS 01', refers a height of 365,76 metres.[3] On the other hand, the newspaper 'El País' states in an article that the height is 365 metres, [4] while other media outlets claim it to be 370 metres.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Drawings of Torreta de Guardamar - SkyscraperPage.com". skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  2. ^ a b c Pamies, D. (2018-12-02). "Defensa invierte 141.000 euros en reforzar la vigilancia de la Torre de los Americanos". Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  3. ^ ENAIRE (31 December 2020). "AIP ESPAÑA: ENR 5.4-1 OBSTÁCULOS PARA LA NAVEGACIÓN AÉREA - AIR NAVIGATION OBSTACLES" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 January 2021.
  4. ^ Burgos, Rafa (2018-08-25). "La Torre de los americanos, el edificio más alto de España, trabaja bajo el mar". El País (in Spanish). ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  5. ^ Rives, M. A. (2017-04-26). "La Torre de los Americanos abre sus puertas tras medio siglo de secretismo". Información (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  6. ^ Lorca, C. (2019-09-03). "Ni Madrid, ni Barcelona: la estructura más alta de España está en Guardamar del Segura". La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  7. ^ a b Oriola Lafuente, Enrique (September 2013). "Antena LF 380" (PDF). Boletín Club S500. 25: 23. ISSN 1885-1274. Retrieved 17 January 2021 – via Politechnic University of Valencia.
  8. ^ Spanish Navy. "El AJEMA visita varias dependencias de la Armada en la zona de Murcia y Alicante". armada.defensa.gob.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-01-17.
Records
Preceded by
Belmont transmitting station
387.5 m (1,271 ft)
 Tallest structure in EU
2010 – present
370 m (1210 ft) 		Incumbent
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Torreta de Guardamar.