World Amazing Stuff: Greatest engineering achievements

Greatest engineering achievements



01) The Palm, Dubai

The Palm islands comprise approximately 100 million cubic meters of rock and sand. 
In total, 210 million cubic meters of rock, sand and limestone were reclaimed (through dredging) to create the islands, with 10 million cubic meters of rock used in the outer ring alone.  


02) Aqueduct of Segovia, Spain

The Aqueduct, one of the Iberian Peninsula's best preserved ancient monuments, features 44 double arches and 79 single arches in a total of 167. It was built during the reign of Roman Emperor Trajan and is still in use, carrying water from the Frio River to the town of Segovia.


03) Great Wall of China, China

The Great Wall of China is 8,850km long (5,500 miles) and was constructed over a period of 2,000 years. Construction began in 475 BC, to protect China from the invading Huns. During the Ming dynasty, between 1368 and 1644 A.D, it was given a makeover, with the addition of watchtowers, battlements and cannons some of which stand 980 meters above sea level.


04) Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Construction of the TajMahal took around 20 years, beginning in around 1632 and finishing around 1653. The building is symmetrical in every way, and was built as a memorial to the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.


05) Trans-Siberian Railroad, Russia

The Trans-Siberian Railroad connects Moscow and Eastern Russia with Japan, China and Mongolia. 


06) Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world and tallest man made structure on land ever’ which stands at a record breaking 828m tall more than 160 stories. It rises above the Dubai skyline and holds many world records. Completion date: January 4, 2010


07) Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Japan

It's took 2 million workers, 10 years to construct the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It connects the city of Kobe, on Japan's mainland, with Iwaya on Awaji Island. It's the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a length of 1,991m. Completion date: April 5, 1998.


08) White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, Canada

Built during the Klondike Gold Rush and financed largely by British investors, the "railroad built on gold" was constructed in just 26 months, using 450 tons of explosives to blast through Canada's coastal mountains. The railway still uses vintage cars, the oldest dating back to 1881.Completion date: July 29, 1900.


09) Tokyo Sky Tree, Tokyo

The Sky Tree's reinforced concrete center column is separate from the surrounding steel framing and incorporates an earthquake-resistant design similar to that used in pagoda temples. Completion date: May 22, 2012.


10) International Space Station

The International Space Station cost $100 billion to build and involved 100,000 people in 15 nations. It also ranks as one of the more unusual construction sites, located 354 kilometers (220 miles) above Earth. Completion date: Ongoing.